13 Apr 2026

Members of Parliament have welcomed the Public Service Bill of 2026, which seeks to repeal and replace the existing Public Service Act with amendments to align it with current labour laws and international standards. 

The Bill forms part of response to the 2017 recommendations by the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Committee of Application of Standards. Debating the Bill recently, legislators unanimously supported it. 

MP for Mmadinare, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, highlighted that the ILO recommendations included allowing prison service employees to unionise in line with ILO Convention 87, amending the Trade Dispute Act and the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organisations Act to conform with international standards and maintaining ongoing liaison with the ILO for a comprehensive review of labour relations and laws. 

Mr Motshegwa added that government was also expected to develop, in consultation with tripartite partners, a time-bound action plan for implementing the ILO directives and report progress directly to the Committee of Application of Standards. 

He expressed satisfaction that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs had already made significant progress by enacting the Employment and Labour Relations Act, which was now fully operational. 

He described the introduction of the revised Public Service Bill as the ‘cherry on top’,  saying it would foster robust cooperation among government, employers, employees and trade unions to build harmonious labour relations. 

“Swift harmony between government, employers, employees and trade unions is essential for building a resilient and progressive economy in an atmosphere of peace and democratic maturity,” Mr Motshegwa said. 

He stressed that national productivity depended on employees being satisfied with their conditions of service. He urged government to invest more in the morale, motivation, welfare and human rights of workers before demanding full delivery in the workplace. 

In return, he said employees should also reciprocate by delivering results. 

He welcomed the inclusion of paternity leave provisions in the Bill, saying the matter required thorough consideration to allow fathers adequate time to bond with their newborn children. 

Mr Motshegwa also emphasised the need for legal protection of union leaders, calling for clear distinction between their representational duties and political activism.

 “Union leaders exist to represent the aspirations, ideas and commitments of employees, not their own,” he said. 

On the education sector, he noted that deregulation process for teachers would help align their conditions of service with the unique nature of their work, addressing long-standing issues that had hindered their ability to deliver with integrity and dedication. 

He added that the welfare of teachers remained critical to the development of the nation’s future. 

He further observed that the Bill came at an opportune time following the collapse of the bargaining council, thereby reinforcing international standards, particularly ILO Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining.

 That, he said, would enable trade unions to negotiate effectively on issues of service delivery and fair remuneration. 

He also noted that the Employment and Labour Relations Act provided for objective and impartial dispute resolution mechanisms, including withdrawal of government from mediation and arbitration processes. 

MP for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, called for the inclusion of firm timelines in the Bill to eliminate grey areas, proposing that the term ‘reasonable period’ be replaced with specific timeframes. 

He recommended amending Section 59(c) to provide legal immunity and protection for whistleblowers, including keeping their identities confidential at all times, to encourage reporting and help curb corruption in government institutions. 

Mr Kekgonegile welcomed Section 14 of the Bill for clearly outlining the roles that the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) may delegate. 

On sexual discrimination in the workplace, he urged government to embed firm policies across all ministries and to be intentional in protecting victims. 

He proposed that sexual harassment awareness be taught to all public officers through workshops, chats and pictorial materials to prevent future occurrences. ENDS