06 Mar 2023

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs requires a larger budget to cater for newly established departments and remuneration of extra staff following rationalisation of government portfolio responsibilities which sired new ministries.

This was said by Labour and Home Affairs Minister, Ms Annah Mokgethi in Parliament recently, when she presented the ministry’s budget estimates of over P866 million for the 2023/2024 financial year.

Under the recurrent budget, Ms Mokgethi said P172 144 790 was required for headquarters for subventions to Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC) and Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) as well as payment of outstanding salary arrears and office rentals by ministry departments.

From the proposed estimates, she said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship required over P366 million to cover for more overtime allowance for immigration officers as more borders had been re-opening after COVID-19.

Over P101 million would be allocated to the Department of Civil and National Registration to cover maintenance of births and deaths registration system, while the Department of Labour and Social Security needed over P66 million.

She added that the Department of Occupational Health and Safety required over P15 million  while National Internship Programme required over P10 million, while Botswana Public Service College required over P35 million.

Under the development budget, she said the ministry required over P75 million for various projects such as computerisation, consultancies and infrastructure development.

Commenting on the proposals, Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile concurred  with the minister that the ministry required sufficient funds owing to the many challenges it was faced with, which included understaffing in many offices across the country.

Mr Kekgonegile also expressed concern that the 5 000 work permits issued were too high looking at the fact that Batswana were now skilled enough to qualify for most jobs local.

On the other hand, a majority of legislators complained about flouting of labour laws and regulations, especially by employers in isolated areas hard to access like farms and lodges in the delta.

Some also opined that the minimum wage was too low and made life planning difficult. Among other issues that they raised included delays in resolving labour disputes.

Nevertheless, they applauded the recent move to use identity cards as travel documents, saying such move would improve integration as well as boost foreign earnings. 

They said the next move should be increasing operation times at various border posts.

Responding to the MPs’ comments, Ms Mokgethi assured them that operation times at various border posts would be looked into and reviewed, especially commercial ones after negotiations with neighbouring countries. “This will however, take time as it needs resources,” she said. On work permits, she said such were only issue after satisfaction that no Motswana qualified for the job the permit was being required for.

“But we will continue to intensify our inspections to ensure that permits are not just issued unnecessarily,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, Parliament subsequently passed the ministry’s proposed budget. ends