12 Jul 2020

A Labour Law Review Committee is  working on review of  the Public Service Act of 2008 with assistance from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), says Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) director, Ms Goitseone Mosalakatane.

Briefing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Gaborone on July 9, Ms Mosalakatane said the committee had  reached a consensus on most of the amendments, but  there were two remaining contentious issues.

She said the two issues included public officers’ engagement in partisan politics and private business.

Ms Mosalakatane explained that an ILO technical expert had submitted a revised issue paper to the committee containing suggestions on how amendments could be couched and would then be submitted to sub-HLCC in the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development.

“Once HLCC has considered the proposed amendments, the next stage would be to seek approval for drafting of the Public Service Act Amendment Bill,” she said.

On other issues, Ms Mosalakatane  said one of the biggest challenges that DPSM was facing was review of conditions of service which included HR policies, general orders and conditions of service that were outdated and subject to various interpretations.

Ms Mosalakatane said the issues were exacerbated by lack of on-boarding or induction of public servants on their entitlements and obligations.

Additionally,  she said DPSM was in the process of reviewing public service policies and conditions of service to align them with the current legislation and relevant HR best practice.

“This process will include coming up with guidelines and manuals, training and development of the Leadership and HR Partners in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) on their interpretation an application,” she explained.

The director explained that as of March 2019, the unemployed graduate database had registered 43 375 graduates of which a total of 10 194 had been placed. Additionally, for the financial 2018/2019, she said a total of 1476 graduates had been placed. Ends