06 Apr 2020

Minister of Employment, Labour and Skills Development Mr Mpho Balopi says government is pleased that some entities retracted their positions with regard to their employees’ welfare.

Some of the decisions retracted, Mr Balopi indicated are; putting workers on unpaid leave, immediate suspensions without pay and retrenchment as the first course of action, forced unpaid leave, no-work-no-pay rule and forced terminations among others.

Mr Balopi said to avoid retrenchments, government came up with interventions such as to ensure that the Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) relaxed some of its requirements. BURS, Mr Balopi said will speed process of VAT refunds, will not withhold any qualifying payments even if PAYE is owed.

Minister Balopi therefore urged the entities that have offended to quickly correct and inform themselves of the content of March 2020 Labour Sector Tripartite’s pronouncement.

He further stressed that during these times, all share the same exposure and risks and therefore everyone should work in solidarity. He said the plight and safety of labour force and frontline workers must remain a concern for all. ENDS