11 Jul 2019

The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism has employed one person living with albinism and 18 other people living with other disabilities.

Responding to a question in Parliament on July 10, Minister Kitso Mokaila said he might not say with any degree of certainty if the number of people employed in his ministry met the country’s target of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because the figure was a fraction of the total number of people employed in the public service. But, he said that for those employed by his ministry, he believed it had contributed significantly towards inclusiveness and decent work for all hence the ministry would continue to employ them as and when the right opportunities arise.

Still in Parliament, the Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr  Moiseraele Goya also stated that there were nine employees with different disabilities employed in his ministry and its institutions. He said the employees’ date of employment and gender was available at the ministry.

“The data for my ministry should be understood to only represent what is happening at that level, ministry level. The national picture will be an aggregate of the data from all different sectors, both public and private,” he said.

Both Messers Mokaila and Goya were responding to Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile, who  had asked the ministers to state how many people living with albinism and other disabilities were employed in their ministries and institutions.

 He also wanted to know if the number of people employed met the country’s target of the UN’s SDGs No 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth by 2030, to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. ENDS