Newly formed union gains momentum
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday April 6, 2026 06:00
According to the union’s general secretary, Motswana Tlhako, membership growth has been encouraging, with the union meeting the recognition threshold at Koro Camp in Thuli Block near the Platjan border.
“We have successfully recruited enough members at Koro Camp to meet the one-third requirement needed for statutory recognition,” Tlhako stated. “We anticipate official recognition in early May, following the peak tourism season. We are also optimistic about gaining recognition at Mashatu Game Reserve soon.”
In addition to these sites, around 48 freelance tour guides in Maun and Kasane have joined CAPSWU, signalling growing support amongst workers in the tourism sector.
However, Tlhako highlighted significant challenges the union faces in accessing workers at their workplaces. He noted that many employers refuse permission for union representatives to meet with employees, forcing recruitment to occur during month-end pay days in Bobonong. “It is not healthy for private sector workers, especially in the industries we recruit from, to be denied access to union representation,” he said.
The union secretary called on the government, which portrays itself as a human rights champion, to introduce stricter legislation to facilitate worker recruitment and protect employees' rights in these industries. Tlhako also accused certain business owners in Mashatu and Thuli Block of discriminatory practices, suggesting that fear of job loss discourages some workers from joining the union without employer consent.
Highlighting the difficult conditions faced by workers, Tlhako explained that employees are often prohibited from driving their own cars to the workplace. “After their shifts, workers have no transport back home and are sometimes forced to sleep at the workplace without proper bedding,” he said. He also reported that some workers are not allowed visits from their spouses, which raises further concerns about their welfare.
To address these issues, CAPSWU is urging the Department of Labour to conduct joint inspections of farms and lodges alongside union representatives. Such tours, according to Tlhako, would provide first-hand insight into workplace conditions and help ensure that workers’ rights are upheld. The union secretary also called for workshops to educate employees, employers, and union members about the constitutional right to form and join a union of their choice. “Understanding the right of association is crucial,” Tlhako emphasized. “Workers must know they have the legal right to organize and participate in union activities without fear of retaliation.”
As CAPSWU continues its recruitment drive, the union hopes that increased awareness, stronger legislation, and government oversight will lead to safer, fairer working conditions across Botswana’s key industries.