12 Mar 2014

Parliament has been informed that the status of compliance by registered trade unions and federation of trade unions to submit annual returns is not satisfactory and is a cause for concern in view of the fact that they are the custodians of public assets. 

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu said the country had 64 registered trade unions, two registered trade union federations and one registered employers’ organisation in Botswana. 

Out of this number, he said 25 trade unions, one trade union federation and one employers’ organisation had complied with the law on the submission of annual returns and 39 trade unions and one trade union federation had not complied with the law on the submission of annual returns. 

Responding to a parliamentary question from the MP for Ngwaketse West, Mr Mephato Reatile, Minister Batshu said Section 42 of the act, provided for the submission of annual returns by trade unions, federations of trade unions and employers organisations to the registrar of trade unions and employers organisations. 

In terms of Regulation 12 of the act, he said, trade unions, federation of trade unions and employers organisations were required to submit annual returns by the April 30 annually.

He said between September 1and 2, 2013 the ministry wrote letters to defaulting trade unions and the federation of trade unions requesting them to sunmit their outstanding annual returns by October 31, 2013. 

Mr Batshu further said the ministry had instituted an investigation into the activities of 14 trade unions and a federation of trade unions which had not submitted annual returns and their proper utilisation of funds in their possession was found wanting by the registrar.

He said the concerned organisations were given two months from February 1 to March 31, 2014 to show cause why their registration could not be cancelled. The responses from the trade unions and the trade union sederation concerned would inform them on their next course of action, he added.

MP Reatile had asked the minister to state the status of compliance of trade unions, federation of trade unions and employers’ organisations regarding submission of annual returns in purchase of the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organisations Act.

In addition, Ngwaketse West MP also wanted to know the number of complaint and non-complaint organisations and whether any remedial action had been taken in accordance with the act to deal with non-compliance. Ends