ILES readies Botswana for new labour law
Kabelo Boranabi | Thursday July 23, 2026 12:32
Speaking at a media briefing in Gaborone this week, ILES chief executive officer, Shandukani Hlabano, confirmed that preparations for the conference have been completed, with organisers ready to welcome delegates from across the labour sector. The fifth edition of the conference is to be held under the theme, 'Turning Law into Practice: Implementing the Employment and Labour Relations Act in a Digital and Transforming Economy.'
This edition of the conference comes as Botswana awaits the commencement of the new legislation following its passage by Parliament and presidential assent. Hlabano said the conference is intended to ensure employers, employees, government and other stakeholders are ready for the transition. 'When a new law comes into effect, stakeholders have to be ready because implementing new legislation can be a daunting task. We have taken it upon ourselves to facilitate the social partners to ensure there is a seamless introduction of the new law,' he said.
He said this year's conference is particularly significant as it marks the fifth edition of the annual event and will, for the first time, be organised through a tripartite partnership involving the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Business Botswana, the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) and the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU). Hlabano said collaboration between government, employers and workers is essential to fostering harmonious industrial relations, adding that the conference will provide a platform for dialogue on workplace rights, labour administration, collective bargaining, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, productivity and employment creation.
The conference programme will also feature presentations by representatives from the tripartite partners and development institutions, while a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between ILES and the University of Zambia to strengthen academic collaboration in labour and legal studies.Meanwhile, ILES will also host a two-day masterclass to be held on August 6-7 to provide participants with a practical understanding of the new Employment and Labour Relations Act.
ILES Labour Law Lecturer David Mnjama said the masterclass will go in depth then the conference would. He said the masterclass is aimed at employers, human resources practitioners, lawyers, government officials, trade unions, business owners and employees, and will unpack key provisions of the new law, clarify common misconceptions and explain how it will affect workplaces.
Topics will include workplace discrimination and harassment, different forms of employment, termination of employment, redundancy, collective bargaining and the role of the Mediation and Arbitration Commission.
'We are going to demystify some of the misconceptions surrounding the new Act and explain exactly what has changed,' Mnjama said.
Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe is expected to officially open the conference, while the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.