�Construction the most hazardous job in Botswana�

Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday August 20, 2014 11:59

 

Presenting the figures during a Pitso yesterday, Minister Edwin Batshu said data showed that the numbers of workers injured on the job were generally high. According to the figures, 1,173 work related injuries were recorded in 2011, 1,251 in 2012 and 1, 127 last year.

“Data also indicates that male employees are the ones who are injured the most,” Batshu said. “Maybe there are some factors attributable to this trend.” These factors include that workplace injuries are highest in male dominated sectors such as building, construction, Botswana Defence Force and Botswana Police Service.

Batshu noted with disappointment that the turnaround time for the processing of Workman’s Compensation continued to be longer than expected, saying a decentralisation exercise was expected to speed the process up.

“The turnaround time for payment of workers compensation claims for government employees is supposed to be 14 days, but it usually takes over a month. For the private sector, the set turnaround time is 30 days but this can run to one or two years and really causes a concern,” Batshu said.

Besides lack of efficiency in the payment of compensation claims, Batshu noted other challenges such as workers not notifying their employer when they are injured as well as unscrupulous medical doctors who present fraudulent allotments in order to cheat the system in favour of whoever is represented by the doctor at that time.

Other delays have been noted in the payment processes within government departments and insurance companies. “We have come up with a plan towards a common understanding of the provisions of the Workers Compensation Act, to clarify the role of each stakeholder, sensitise stakeholders on the importance of timely payment and come up with ways of improving the turnaround time,” he said.

“We are also looking at ways of reducing occupational injuries and deaths.” Further Batshu warned employers against not insuring their employees, saying this was an offence under the law. He cautioned that labour inspections were continually ongoing to ensure adherence to the law.