07 Nov 2023

The government representative, the labour movement and representatives of the business community have concluded negotiations on the issue of a minimum wage and have submitted recommendations to the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs for consideration and finality.

Delivering the State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the  tripartite considered ‘factors of inflation, the buying power and other economic factors in their conclusions’.

Dr Masisi said the intention was to review the new minimum wages before the end of the current financial year.

He also said in the process of attaining decent work programmes, government had embarked on a social dialogue comprising collaboration with trade unions, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the employer.

He said it entailed the review of the Public Service Act as well as the review and consolidation of the Employment Act, Trade Disputes Act, Trade Unions and Employers Organisations Act.

He added that the process also covered salient issues relating to occupational health, social protection, dispute resolution, collective bargaining, both in the private and public sectors, and work relations between employers and employees in the workplace.

President Masisi further stated that the exercise also took into account international best practices and standards, adding that it was anticipated that the review of all these legislations would be completed by the end of the financial year. “The delay is attributed to our resolve to be a consultative and inclusive government as espoused in the Botswana Democratic Party manifesto of 2019.”

He said Botswana had acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism, a voluntary self-monitoring process on governance adopted by African Union member states.

He added that by joining the peer review mechanism, Botswana was showing commitment to conduct a self-assessment to determine her compliance with both the African and international commitments on governance issues.

He said to accelerate the process, government had established a national governing council ,which would spearhead the review mechanism process, particularly the national review process. ENDS