Labour Movement Clashes With Gov't
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday September 7, 2021 06:00
In what could spark a fresh row, the labour movement has accused the government of sidelining social partners in the development of the policy, which was tabled by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Peggy Serame.
Last week, the deputy secretary-general of Botswana Federation of Public Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said they have written to ministers Serame, her counterpart at the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mpho Balopi, as well as the Clerk of the National Assembly for the Bill to be withdrawn.
Motshegwa said they will take legal action and report government to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) if the policy is not withdrawn.
“The labour movement in Botswana intends to report government to ILO on account of sidelining social partners in the development of the employment policy. The policy was tabled by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Peggy Serame,” said Motshegwa.
The contention by the labour movement is that they have not been consulted. Furthermore, they contend that it is wrong for the policy to be spearheaded by the finance ministry instead of the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, which is the one responsible for labour administration.
“This confusion regarding the role of ministries is highly worrying,” Motshegwa said.
According to Motshegwa, the reporting of government to ILO will dent the reputation and image of Botswana as a country that does not respect the role of social partners in particular trade unions.
He said the issue will also damage the reputation of President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s administration in that it will earn a tag as a government that does not consult contrary to its promises.
“If the government fails to withdraw the Bill, we will be left with no choice but to weigh in the legal route to assert organisational rights of trade unions and go further to report the matter to ILO,” Motshegwa said.
This is not the first time that the government and the labour movement have clashed, causing the union to report to the ILO.
In the past government has been reported for violation of workers and trade union rights, as well as violations of conventions contrary to the ILO framework.