KBL, BBL workers march against alcohol levy

OLIVER MODISE
Correspondent | Friday June 12, 2009 00:00

They called on the government to rescind the levy or reduce it to save further job losses. The employees of the two sister companies that brew clear beer and the popular Chibuku said while they understood the government's war on alcohol, it should consider other alternatives of reducing alcohol abuse.

In their petition delivered to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the workers said since the introduction of the levy, retrenchments had hit the two companies to the point where remaining employees were under threat.

'The other employees also remain under threat of further retrenchments,' the petition said. 'We appeal to you Honourable Minister to please reconsider government's decision to impose the levy and do away with it completely or at least drastically reduce it to save our livelihoods and that of our families.'

 The petition noted that the levy had also resulted in locally produced alcohol becoming more expensive than imported alcohol. There was the risk of further job losses because KBL and BBL could be forced to close down if the levy remained in force, it said.

'This (levy) makes it difficult for KBL /BBL to compete with these foreign brands. This has led to KBL/BBL market share going down and production as well ... We therefore request the government to unfold (a) backup plan for the employees of these two companies taking in consideration that some employees are brewers and they can only be employed in the brewing industry,' the petition continued.

The petition raised the issue of the imbalance of the levy in the fact that it does not affect foreign or imported brands. 'If the implementation of the levy continues as it is, it shows that the government's intention was not to eliminate alcohol abuse but to close KBL/BBL and retreat on its Buy Botswana (campaign),' it observed.

The petition pointed out that members of the public who benefit from the two companies' social responsibility programmes stood to lose if the levy remained. These programmes included Tshelang, Kickstart, sports sponsorship, employee scholarships and generous contributions to Masiela Trust for orphans.

'We foresee a situation where some of the sports codes not having (a) sponsor when the two companies continue to lose business as is witnessed. Has the government forgotten the contribution made by these two in past years?'

The workers said because many companies across the globe were affected by the global financial crisis, it would not be easy for them to find alternative employment.
The petition was received by the Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Duke Lefhoko