22 Aug 2023

Trade unions have been commended for  transcending boundaries of bread and butter issues to agitate for improvement of the world of work landscape for the achievement of the decent work agenda.

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Anna Mokgethi applauded the unions when officially opening the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) Annual Conference in Palapye on Monday. 

Minister Mokgethi said she took notice and appreciated union bodies for the welfare initiatives geared at improving the lives and livelihoods of their members. 

She cited provision of legal representation, funeral packages, various handy accessories and gadgets in the digital era that connect them to the world as well as subsidised loans that have impacted on the lives of many. 

The minister noted that teachers and educators as one of the front liners during COVID-19 era, sacrificed their all to ensure that children of this nation receive education. 

Therefore, she appreciated initiatives by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development and various teaching unions are currently working on to be always ready in cases of such phenomena. 

“Botswana government through Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs remains committed to ensuring that conducive platforms are created for the tripartite to thrive and fully deliver on their mandate,” she said.

Ms Mokgethi said Botswana aligned herself with the ideals of the International Labour Organization with regard to international labour standards and would do everything to ensure compliance and therefore drummed up support from unions. 

She said the conference was an expression of the union’s commitment to the principle of consultation and good governance, pointing out that members had been rendered the opportunity to reflect on matters pertaining to internal governance, welfare issues as well as issues of national interest. 

She noted that consultation was indisputably vital for the growth and stability of the union, adding that her ministry’s participation in the conference presented yet another opportunity to nurture the spirit of consultation and social dialogue between government and social partners.

“This is something we uphold and cherish as an important aspect of a principle of consultation at the centre of our decision making processes that has permeated our industrial relations system in various social dialogue structures,” she added. 

She said part of her ministry’s mandate was to ensure harmonious industrial relations in the country, adding it covered a wide spectrum of issues that contribute to the growth of the economy. 

She said accountability in the union’s structures was paramount, as it demanded that the leadership take responsibility for their actions, and admit mistakes. 

On the conference theme: Growing our Union, Elevating our Profession, Defending Democracy, Ms Mokgethi said it was not only relevant to the functions and mandate of trade unions but also to the developmental agenda of the country in general. ENDS