20 Oct 2019

The President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has advised Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mine workers’ union to follow a complaint procedure to iron out issues with their employer.

Dr Masisi advised the workers during a courtesy call with the mine workers’ union in Orapa on Friday.

He acknowledged that government had a stake in Debswana but could not influence the company’s decisions since there was a board that oversees the company operations.

He noted that the company had a procedure in place to resolve employer and employee issues, and government could not interfere on their issues.

The President, therefore, advised the mine union to follow all the steps and reach out to his office if they failed to reach an agreement on the negotiations with management.

Orapa branch mine workers’ union chairperson Mr Joseph Tsimako, stated that they had been on negotiations with Debswana management but had failed to reach an agreement on some of the issues.

He had expressed hope that the President could intervene indicating that some of the major issues had not been addressed, citing bonus payments as an example.

He stated that they were aggrieved by the disparity between lower level and senior management staff. He said there was need to close the gap saying bonus was awarded according to target and not qualifications.

Mr Tsimako said they had since stated that scannex exposed workers to health risk, adding that research had also indicated that scannex was dangerous.

He noted that it was important for the company to reward its employees when celebrating 50 years anniversary, citing that a reward of 10 000 could make employees feel appreciated and part of the system.

He said they had not received salary increment in the past three years but production at the mine was gradually increasing, requesting an increment of 10 per cent. ENDs