28 Mar 2021

The MP for Mmopane/Lentsweletau, Ms Naniki Makwinja says it is disheartening to see foreigners employed in positions which Batswana are qualified for.

Airing her views on the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development budget proposals for 2021/22 financial year on Thursday, Ms Makwinja said there were foreigners engaged in human resources and as accountants, yet the country had qualified unemployed citizens.

She further said she was concerned about the number of industrial disputes that remained unresolved.

Ms Makwinja said the country had been rated low in the Global Competitive Index due to poor work ethic.

MP Talitha Monnakgotla of Kgalagadi North called for the maintenance of buildings at Kang and Hukuntsi brigades.

She further said the brigades should produce graduates who were ready for employment and further said student allowances should be increased.

MP Machana Shamukuni of Chobe said they did not have a district labour officer, which situation forced people to seek assistance in Francistown.

He expressed hope that the envisaged Labour Inspection Policy would provide guidance as the employers had been riding a gravy train at the expense of their employees.

The MP said Chobe Brigade did not have adequate resources, hence they failed to provide courses in tourism and beauty therapy although the skills were in high demand in the area.

He said the brigade was donated by a company that was involved in a road construction, but it needed maintenance.

MP Shamukuni also said the brigade was under staffed. He said 10 lecturers had been transferred and were never replaced. He said only temporary ones were engaged who usually left before they completed their courses.

Francistown East MP, Mr Buti Billy said the budget should state the number of jobs expected to be created in the next financial year.

He appealed to the Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development to pay attention to employer-employee relations, saying most of the time the employers were favoured.

MP Billy further said security companies were notorious for exploiting their employees, either they received their salaries late or they were not paid at all.

He further said employees who were placed on isolation or quarantined were not fully paid their monthly salaries and urged the minister to assist them.

MP Billy said while the State of Emergency was supposed to protect people from losing their jobs, it was not helpful as companies continued to retrench.

MP Goretetse Kekgonegile of Maun East said some brigades staff houses in Maun needed maintenance.

He was also concerned about the number of pending cases at the Industrial Court.

MP Kekgonegile further said a permanent Industrial Court should be established in Maun.

Jwaneng/Mabutsane MP, Mr Mephato Reatile urged politicians to protect the interests of Batswana, saying some because of their interests, were failing to take appropriate actions against unscrupulous companies that exploited their employees.

He said government should increase minimum wage, saying Choppies paid their South African employees R4 500 per month while Batswana received paltry P900 which was insufficient to cater for their daily needs.

Ramotswa legislator Mr Lefoko Moagi said in the past, Tswelelopele Brigade played a meaningful role in the economy by producing graduates who were involved in development projects.

He said the brigade undertook its own maintenance, thus offering practicals for its students, which saved costs and offered skills development.

MP Moagi decried the manner in which labour inspections were undertaken, saying they only showed what the employer wanted to show at the expense of the employees. ends