Trade unions pressurise gov'tto implement P4,000 living wage

Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday May 7, 2025 06:00

This was a message that ran across the Labour Day celebrations in Gantsi recently. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government is currently grappling with the implementation of the P4,000 living wage it had promised in their 2024 election manifesto. The ruling party has instead blamed depleted public coffers for non action.

President of BLLAHWU, Thatayaone Kesebonye, told workers in Gantsi that the UDC’s promise of a living wage of P4,000 is one of the pledges they support as unions and will make sure that it is implemented across the board.

He said workers were happy when the UDC took over government from the previous regime last year. Kesebonye said that as a result, workers have high hopes that their old cries will be heard by the new government.

“Changes which improve the welfare of workers have to start showing. Workers are expectant from both the private sector and the government.

“Therefore, we have to keep pressuring ministers and the UDC government to deliver and not disappoint workers,” he said.

Kesebonye said changing government after 58 years showed that Batswana had had enough and wanted their lives to improve.

He revealed several companies in the private sector are making millions, but their workers are still poor.

He said that as they push for the P4,000 living wage in the private sector, the same should be implemented in government, and change the current salary scales.

“The pay structure should attract much value,” he said.

For his part, veteran unionist Johnson Motshwarakgole said when he saw Minister for State President Moeti Mohwasa at the May Day celebrations, he thought he was going to announce that the government would be implementing the P4,000 living wage.

He said it would be very sad if the private sector paid their workers a P4,000 living wage, whereas the government fails to do the same.

“Lead by example and show employers from the private sector how it’s done. The P4,000 living wage is a good spirit. You started it, now finish it,” Motshwarakgole told the government.

He said it is not only those who earn less than P4,000 who are waiting for the adjustment. Motshwarakgole said that workers who are earning higher also expect the change to put them some notches up.

After Choppies Botswana launched the P4,000 employee living wage in January this year, the Minister of Communications and Innovation David Tshere issued a stern warning to high-profit companies to pay the lowest wage permitted by the new administration or close shop.

Speaking in Parliament, Tshere said companies that aren't prepared to pay workers the set amount will have to be shut down.