31 Aug 2021

There is no option for automatic renewal of employment contracts that are offered and entered into for senior management ranging from 12 to 60 months, Parliament heard Monday.

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said the criteria used to terminate or recommend termination of contracts for senior management, which included E2 to F2 salary scale employees, was derived from the Public Service Act No. 30 of 2008 Sections 19 and 26.

Minister Morwaeng added that Section 19 prescribed the manner of appointment and performance supervision for senior management.

He said the same section prescribed the eligibility for re-appointment for such number of terms as the appointing authority may prescribe as well as the decision whether or not to re-appoint a person in accordance with the terms of that person’s contract of employment.

The contracts, he said contained a clause which indicated that if one desired to be considered for a new contract, they should write at least three months prior to the date of expiry of the contract.

He further stated that Section 26 dealt with termination of appointments and retirements in the public service.

He said the same section stipulated conditions of the contract which included termination, resignation, expiry, employee’s retirement, abolition of the employee’s office, dismissal or death.

“In specifically dealing with termination of senior management, appointment to senior management position shall be terminated by three months’ notice in writing to that employee, on the grounds that the employee was guilty of misconduct, has failed by reason of infirmity of mind or body, to carry out the functions of his or her office satisfactorily or to the performance standards set under the contract relating to his or her appointment among others,” he explained.

Equally, he said an employee could terminate their employment contract through a three months’ notice period or upon presentation of one month salary.

Parliament also learnt that in the past five years, 30 officers above the age of 60 years got their contracts renewed and seven had theirs terminated, adding out of the seven terminations, none of them were people with disability.

On the affirmative action on people with disabilities, Mr Morwaeng stated that the Director of Public Service Management issued a Circular Savingram dated December 3, 2012, advising that people living with disabilities who had successfully completed their studies at recognised tertiary institutions should be given special dispensation for immediate employment.

In that regard, he said, ministries were also advised to liaise with the Office of People with Disabilities, for such purpose.

Gaborone Bonnington South, Mr Christian Greeff, had asked the minister to explain the criteria used to terminate or recommend termination of contracts for E2 to F2 salary scales.

Mr Greeff also wanted to know how many of such officers above the age of 60 years got their contracts renewed and how many were terminated as recommended by the ministry.

Again, the legislator wanted to know how many officers were people living with disability.

He further wanted to know if the ministry would ever implement the Affirmative Action Policy with regard to people with disability. ENDS