Scope may be broadened to include PPEs
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday December 19, 2022 06:00
Responding to a question in Parliament this week, Manake said her ministry is currently carrying out a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the regulations of PPEs.
She was responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for Selebi-Phikwe West constituency, Dithapelo Keorapetse who had asked Manake whether she can broaden the scope to include PPE.
Keorapetse had also wanted to know whether the restriction of importation of some or all (as the case may be applicable) of PPEs and other products, in line with regional instruments on the protection of burgeoning infant industries is being considered to boost Selebi-Phikwe (and Botswana) textile and other manufacturing industries.
“Statutory Instruments (SI) are developed through the Control of Goods, Prices and Other Charges Act, which is a national legislation that gives powers to regulate import/export of commodities.
As such, they can be reviewed as and when the need arises and, on that note, it is possible to broaden the scope of Statutory Instrument No. 76 of 2021 (Restriction on Importation of School Uniform) to include PPEs. It is worth noting that the ministry is currently carrying out a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Regulations of PPEs, which is being requested by the Honorable Member of Parliament,” Manake disclosed. She also said Selebi-Phikwe alone has a massive capacity to produce PPEs and textile garments required locally.
Manake said an assessment has been made as SPEDU is currently facilitating four large textile companies, of which three are 100% citizen owned while the other is a joint venture with a Motswana 51% ownership. The Assistant Minister further pointed out that LEA is also facilitating three textile companies operating in Selebi-Phikwe. Manake added that the industry currently employs 432 people with 97% being employed by the large textile companies under the SPEDU portfolio. She said the textile industry in Selebi-Phikwe currently has an equipment capacity of over 1,252 sewing machines with a total of 767 machines lying idle hence 61.2% lost production and business opportunities.
“This justifies the addition of extra lines such as PPEs, work uniforms (banks, hotels, security companies) on the Statutory Instrument. The true potential of employment within the textile industry in Selebi-Phikwe alone stands at 2,050 jobs as compared to the current 432 jobs. On double shifts, the job potential of these factories can go up to 4,100 jobs being created in Selebi-Phikwe alone,” she said. In addition, Manake said on October 27, 2022, SPEDU hosted a buyers’ EXPO for both the public and private sector as per its incentives of 30% off take from all government institutions including state-owned entities. “The EXPO exposed the Selebi-Phikwe textile industry and from there, deals and contracts were made for PPEs, uniforms and other garments,” she said.