17 Aug 2020

 The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) has set up a high level response team to mitigate COVID-19 impact on employees, stakeholders and clients.

Briefing the media recently HRDC chief executive officer, Dr Raphael Dingalo, said the team had developed internal COVID-19 protocol guidelines for staff.

He said a crisis communications plan had been developed, noting the HRDC with its customer- centric driven approach, regularly communicated with internal and external stakeholders regarding business continuity interventions.

“Working from home guidelines have also been developed and continue to guide HRDC on how to handle issues of labour law, occupational health, public health and infection control measures while easing office congestions,” he said.

Commenting on the lessons learned and way forward for the council, Dr Dingalo said like all other workplaces around the world, HRDC had not been able to escape impact of the pandemic.

He said the council had turned some of the challenges into opportunities to implement proactive business continuity interventions.

He said as a way forward, the council would automate its services and develop change management strategy for managing changes, develop 21st century workforce that was technologically apt and agile.

Dr Dingalo stated also that the council would have activities such as the Botswana Human Resource Development Skills fare and career clinics held virtually.

He said HRDC had fully taken advantage of Information, Communication and Technology virtual platforms such as WEBEX, Microsoft Teams and BITRIX 24 for meetings and communication to stakeholders, customers and clients as well at the levels of the Board, Management and Staff meetings.

He noted the virtual platforms had proved to be efficient.

Also, Dr Dingalo mentioned that HRDC was mandated to manage the Human Resource Development Fund, a levy based Fund established to finance workplace learning.ends