01 Nov 2023

Consultative meetings between the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) and civil servants do not prevent the latter from consulting their unions says, DPSM Director Ms Gaone Macholo.

Addressing civil servants in Francistown on October 30, she said the meeting was a conversation between the employer and employees, adding that it was vital to see each other regularly.

Ms Macholo said it was not ideal  to have a relationship  characterised by exchange of letters.

She said instead there should be  a warm connection.

“What we are doing does not take away the opportunities you have to continue to use the unions to negotiate, bargain and consult with the DPSM on your behalf,” she added.

Ms Macholo stated that as the country was on the journey to Vision 2036, one of the things envisaged to be achieved was making Botswana  a high income country.

“To become a high income country means that the country would have experienced or still experiencing prosperity for all where all people collectively would see an improvement in their livelihoods,” she said.

Ms Macholo said there was an agreement to collectively develop Public Service Human Resource policies to be completed during the 2023/24 fiscal year and they would include Disciplinary policy (inclusive of grievance procedure).

Other policies to be developed are Overtime Management policy, Conditions of Service, Management Performance policy, Learning and Development policy, Occupational Safety and Health policy,

Recruitment, Selection and Appointment policy, inclusive of transfer guidelines.

She highlighted that the drafting of the Human Resources policies had passed several stages including validation and consultation with key stakeholders.

She said the policies would be aligned to the Public Service Act where applicable after the completion of its review and that all policies would be consolidated to form a new document that would replace the General Orders.

Ms Macholo stated that agreement to develop the Public Service Remuneration policy and Review of the Public Service salary structure were also expected to be completed during the 2023/24 financial year.

“Remuneration and salary structure remunerations entail moving from narrow bandwidth to fan shaped structure to cater for those reaching ceiling to at least reward performance when there were no vacancies to progress to,” she said.

Updating on payment of staff, she said a total of 25 728 employees on multiple titled C-Band position had been identified to be eligible for payment of arrears across ministries. She said 6 055 or 23 per cent had been paid and 19 673 payments were  outstanding.

Francistown District Commissioner, Ms Chabongwa Matseka said the meeting that gathered employees from Francistown, Sowa Town, Tonota, Masunga, and Tutume districts  had given them a chance to network and share ideas.

She said they would also learn from each other as a way of standardising operations across the district. Ms Matseka said the meeting  demonstrated faith in employees and willingness to communicate directly with them.

“This remains an opportunity for employees to engage with you individually and deliver grievances face to face,” she said.

Ms Matseka said although civil servants were faced with many challenges, the visit would motivate employees to put more effort when delivering services to the public.

Commenting on the address, an employee, Ms Gaone Mogamiwa, wanted to know if maternity leave was given to the newly born child or mother because if the child comes as a stillborn or dies after birth, the mother  is told to resume duty. ENDS