13 Sep 2023

The second edition of the annual labour conference is expected to bring together government, the business community and trade unions under one roof to deliberate on issues relating to labour.

The two-day conference billed for Gaborone, on September 14-15, will be held under the theme; A Just Transition and Decent Work: Inclusive Job Creation Approaches and Effective Labour Market Protection Systems.

“As ILES [Institute of Labour and Employment Studies] we are concerned about the high unemployment rate so we came up with this theme to help [form]  initiatives that could help tackle unemployment and at the same time we also have to see to it that we comply with international labour standards as a country. That is why we brought various players in the labour sector under one roof to help unpack this theme,” said ILES chief executive officer Mr Shandukani Hlabano.

Pursuant to government’s agenda of compliance to international labour standards, the country ratified two conventions; 81 and 129 on labour inspection in the agriculture sector, adding to the 15 conventions that this country has already ratified.

Mr Hlabano explained that 15 of the conventions were in force while two would be in force by December.

The labour movements, particularly the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU), commended the government for the ratification of conventions 81 and 129 and further encouraged the government to ratify other key conventions, especially the fundamental conventions on occupational health and safety as well as Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work.

The conference also comes at a time when the tripartite consisting the government, the business and the federation of trade unions, was in consultation with stakeholders on the Employment and Labour Relations Bill, which was supposed to have been presented to the July Parliament session.

“The social dialogue partners or tripartite agreed not to bring it to the July Parliament session for further consultations,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Hlabano explained that the conference would be graced by various players in the labour sector, adding that government would be represented by the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare, who is also expected to officially open the conference as well as the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi, who would conduct the official closing of the conference on Friday. 

Other key speakers include Debswana Diamond Company’s executive head of human resources, Ms Matlhogonolo Mponang, as well as panelists from the business sector.

Mr Hlabano said senior government officials from the two ministries would also be present including representatives from Business Botswana and Botswana Federation of Public, Parastatal and Private Sector Unions, Botswana Federation of Teachers Unions as well as the Southern Africa Coordination Council. Ends