23 Sep 2026

Both employers and employees have been implored to familiarise themselves with the newly-enacted Employment and Labour Relations Act which aims to comply with international labour standards.

The Act, which commenced beginning of September is a culmination of collective efforts between the employer, the worker and government in a bid to align with the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.

It aims to strengthen the protection and respect for worker’s rights, promoting sound labour relations and collective bargaining as well as to enhance access to labour justice.  

Apprising the councillors of the North West District Council on the Act, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General Pius Mokgware explained that issues of workers’ exploitation, unannounced retrenchment and failure to pay them on time had been worrisome and as such, the Act aimed to close gaps that allowed companies to exploit workers. 

He said it was designed to advance decent work and social justice, noting that businesses were now aware of the new Act particularly since Botswana Business supported its commencement.

He said it was critical for both workers and employers to understand and exercise their rights, noting that employers must comply because failure to do so may result in their licences getting revoked. 

“This Act is not developed for employees as some people think but it is designed to protect both the employers and the employees. The employer also has the right to complain if an employee contravenes existing work regulations like leaving their job without notice,” he added.

The minister thus called for both the employer and the employee to familiarise themselves with the Act and to ensure full compliance. 

Major Gen. (Rtd) Mokgware informed the house that the Act addressed issues such as job security, citing that some companies had a tendency of giving short contracts ranging from one to six months but that the new Act set contract duration to a minimum of 12 months.

He said the Act also promoted transparent and fair recruitment, that included the fact that people should be hired on merit and not based on favouritism, religious affiliation or along the tribal lines. 

He said the Act also made provision of workers to unionise. 

The council meeting also learnt that regulations had been finalised to facilitate the implementation of the Act and some councillors urged government to strengthen monitoring to ensure that employers complied with the new labour law.

The Commissioner of Labour, Ms Veronicah Moloko concurred that Botswana as a member of the ILO has to be compliant to international labour laws hence the commencement of the new Act.

She said the Act encouraged employers to have contracts with their workers, including those in the domestic work sector.

Such, she said, was meant to also help curb child labour and forced labour. For their part, councillors welcomed the Act and called on the relevant ministry to ensure its implementation and monitoring to ensure compliance. 

Councillor for Sankoyo/Khwai/Mababe, Ms Tshabang Paul argued that in the tourism sector especially at some safari camps in the Okavango Delta, issues of ill-treatment of workers were rife and believed that the new law would address such matters.

She said safari employees presently faced several challenges such as low wages, excessive work hours and poor quality of accommodation spaces, and expressed hope that under the new Act, such would become a thing of the past.  ENDS