09 Dec 2013

Following commitments made during the Mid-term Review of the National Development Plan 10, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning with technical support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is developing a National Employment Policy (NEP) which is currently at a draft stage.

The Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr Vincent Seretse has told Parliament that this was preceded by a situation analysis on employment in Botswana that was concluded in 2012. He said the main objective of the situation analysis was to review existing policies, programmes, institutional framework and gaps thereof affecting employment creation.

Mr Seretse said studies were undertaken in 2013 to provide more information needed for a comprehensive Employment Policy, which will have a strategy and action plan to achieve policy goals. He said the development of the Employment Policy follows a seven step policy cycle approach that suggests a logical sequence of events. He further said the  phases include preparation, validation, adoption and communication, programming and budgeting, implementation as well as evaluation.

Mr Seretse said the situational analysis study was part of the issues identification phase and currently the process is at formulation stage. He said the draft policy will be presented to cabinet in 2014. MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele had asked him to state the progress made in developing an employment strategy for Botswana as per commitments made during the Mid-term Review of the National Development Plan 10 and the methodology deployed. ENDS