10 Feb 2020

The Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Mpho Balopi, has commended the leadership of Botswana Bank Employees Union (BOBEU) for investing time and resources in the promotion of workers’ rights.

Officiating at the union’s 24th elective congress on February 7, Mr Balopi applauded BOBEU for consistently holding its congress and other consultative meetings.

“There is no substitute for dialogue in issues that affect  members of your organisation. Dialogue is fundamental in any democratic setup,” he said.

Given the numerous challenges confronting BOBEU such as banks restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, retrenchments and the changing world of work, the minister encouraged the union leaders to position themselves well to tackle the challenges.

“As a unionist, you must practice a culture of subjecting yourselves to the wishes of your members. As leaders, you are accountable and answerable to all the members of your union. You must not underestimate or shrug off your obligations to report back to your structures. You must always ensure that your decisions are justified and well understood by all, including your constituents,” he added.

Minister Balopi advised BOBEU leadership to ensure that accountability was their guiding principle, saying in that way, their union would function coherently, peacefully, efficiently and effectively.

Accountability, he said demanded that the leadership take responsibility for its actions and admit mistakes when they had erred. 

He also stressed that leaders did not necessarily lose respect, when they acknowledged mistakes, but gained credibility.

In his remarks, BOBEU chairperson, Mr Jayson Chakalisa, said trade unions continued to experience a decline in their membership due to retrenchments and the threatening technology innovation in various sectors, across the economy.

Mr Chakalisa said retrenchments, across all sectors in the economy, remained a serious threat to the financial subsistence and ultimate existence of the trade unions.

“We must realise that these sister sectors are the source of our business. As the banking industry and any reduction in business levels is a direct threat to employment levels in our sector, hence a possible decline in our numbers. Remember, our power recite in our numbers and our unity,” he added.

However, despite the many challenges that BOBEU faced, he stressed that the union must be able to deliver decent wages and working conditions through the collective bargaining agreement.

“Our members look upon us, on these critical issues, and their contributions in different ways are invaluable to the sustenance of the sound BOBEU,” he added.

And Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) secretary-general, Mr Thusang Butale said as a federation, they waited in anticipation to see BOBEU grow beyond what it was.

However, Mr Butale also expressed concern that the banking and financial sector had been under siege from job losses, all across Africa, noting that BOBEU had not been immune to this phenomena.

“This is the sector that has been greatly affected by the fourth industrial revolution and global changes in the world of work,” he added.

BFTU secretary general said computerisation, automation and robotics had led to banks cutting down the number of their employees since clients could now be assisted without having to physically go to the bank.

Mr Butale said the challenge, coupled with the changing nature of jobs and definition of the workplace, required BOBEU to retrospect, discuss and come up with ways of addressing the issues and strategies to making the union relevant in the changing world of work and dynamics.

The two-day congress brought together delegates from Bank Gaborone, Bank Baroda, Barclays Bank, First Capital Bank, First National Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Stanbic Bank.

The congress was also attended by representatives from other trade unions, who also gave solidarity messages. Ends