30 Jan 2025

Employees of Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) have expressed frustration with their management, accusing them of ignoring repeated requests for housing and abattoir allowances and making empty promises. 

In an interview on yesterday afternoon, the workers who had organised a peaceful demonstration outside the company’s premises in Lobatse, claimed that the management had failed to follow through on commitments made to improve their working conditions. 

Mr Negro Thebe, a representative for the employees, stated that management had assured them that the concerns of lower-structured employees, specifically those in lower salary brackets, would be prioritized. 

He noted that they had been promised an additional P1, 000 for housing and another P1, 000 as abattoir allowance in their salaries, which was pending board approval. 

However, after waiting until October last year without any progress, workers felt compelled to once again approach management regarding the promises. 

Mr Thebe emphasised that their attempts to engage management met with indifference, prompting the demonstration. 

The Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Mr Kamal Jacobs supported the employees concerns, asserting that management’s lack of responsiveness was concerning. 

He revealed that he too had received assurances that employees requests would be honoured, only to be told by the management that previous meetings had been deemed illegal.

Mr Jacobs criticised BMC management for failing to address employees welfare issues amicably and lamented that the current approach seemed focused on frustrating employees rather than resolving their grievances. 

Following a meeting between the Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) and BMC management on Wednesday afternoon, an agreement was reached to provide a P500 salary increment for employees in Bands 1 to 4 starting January. 

Mr Reuben Khumalo, Executive Manager of Human Capital at BMC, also indicated that management would retract dismissal letters issued to five employees who had been terminated earlier in the week for their participation in the demonstration. ENDS