03 Sep 2020

The engagement of employers and workers’ organisation’s by government forms a critical aspect of the principle of social dialogue, which is an indispensable part of Botswana Decent Work Country Programme (BDWCP).

This was said by Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Mpho Balopi in Parliament on September 2. 

He noted that the tripartite partners were committed to upholding social dialogue as a means to resolve issues that affected the world of work in pursuit of harmonious industrial relations in all sectors of the economy, adding that the engagement covered all aspects of the world of work.

He indicated that the labour laws regulate conditions of employment in all the industries and sectors, including manufacturing, retail, hospitality and tourism.

Mr Balopi said the laws provided basic conditions of employment, saying employers and workers or trade unions were at liberty to conclude collective labour agreements, which also regulate conditions of employment.

The minister explained that the provision of transport for late shift workers was not covered in the Employment Act, however noting that some employers had, through dialogue with employees and in pursuit of good practice, decided to incorporate the provision of transport for workers who come or leave work at night as part of the conditions of employment.

Concerning some employers who do not provide transport for their employees who work night shift, and the challenges faced by such workers, he said the tripartite labour law review committee decided to bring the issue up as a proposal for the amendment of the Employment Act.

Mr Balopi noted that the review was a consultative process facilitated by the International Labour Organization.

He added that the intention was to present the Bills on the reviewed labour laws to Parliament in November, however indicating that government was working with the social partners to finalise the process.

Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had asked the minister to update Parliament on his initiatives to prevail over Business Botswana in order to regulate welfare and working conditions of manufacturing retail, hospitality and tourism sector workers and to further outline if the initiative involved provision of transport for early and late shift workers.

He also wanted to find out if the absence of self-regulation did not call for introduction of national legislation on the issue. Ends