02 May 2021

Social dialogue remains key in tackling emerging challenges that affect employees, especially during the time of COVID-19, which has had devastating effects on the government, employees, and the general public.

Speaking during the Labour Day commemoration by BOFEPUSU and Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) in Gaborone on Saturday, BOFEPUSU president,  Mr Johannes Tshukudu said lack of social dialogue had made it difficult for the government and health professionals to effectively and efficiently contain the virus, leaving both the public and workers exposed.

He said the education and health sectors were the hardest hit by the pandemic as those workers were exposed daily in their provision of service to a wide range of clients in their line of duty.

He, therefore, said most of those workers had some mental health issues as a result of the pressure of the effects of COVID-19, saying there was nothing much given to the workers, either in the form of counselling or psycho-social support.

He said for that reason, the labour sector had lost many people due to the virus and with others left struggling for their lives either at home or health facilities.
He also indicated that the health sector was finding it difficult to cope because the health system was in the same state of affairs with no changes in terms of equipment and human resource provision.

He said since the labour laws did not have anything on the pandemic, the most relevant thing to do was to engage in a social dialogue on such issues, saying that would improve the morale of workers while the workplace would be conducive without low productivity that compromised work ethics.   

“This boils down to lack of social dialogue by the government with key stakeholders on issues of national importance”, said Mr Tshukudu.
He further said small and medium businesses and the informal sector through social dialogue could be transformed to meet the economic needs. 

He called for the review of policies to make them more relevant with the contemporary COVID-19 times to create a conducive environment for private sector growth, saying that could be achieved through social dialogue and Botswana would successfully deal with COVID-19 emerging challenges.

Meanwhile, Mr Tshukudu requested workers across all sectors to put more effort into their occupations.
For her part, Ms Gaebepe Molaodi, the deputy president of BFTU said the Department of Labour and Social Security remained under-resourced to dispose labour disputes lodged with them and to ensure regular inspections and compliance with labour laws. 
She proposed that a National Tripartite Policy Forum, which would involve government, employer organisations and trade unions, be set to duly reflect on the social and economic challenges affecting the nation and accordingly make recommendations. 

The day was commemorated under the theme: Social Dialogue, An imperative for tackling emerging challenges. ENDS