Report slams state-trade union �master-servant� relationship

Oarabile Mosikare | Tuesday October 14, 2014 08:00

In this ‘master-servant’ relationship, the state dominates and trade unions are relegated to a lesser partner in the employment relationship. 

This has been revealed in a report by the Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC) in cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung. 

The main objective of this study was to support internal self-reform processes of the trade unions in Botswana. Drs Trywell Kalusopa and Kaelo Molefhe prepared the study in March this year. 

The study is titled: “Study on Trade Union Internal Self-Reform Process in Botswana”.  “For example, trade union roles are restrictive in tripartite structures such as the Bargaining Council, Labour Advisory Board and Minimum Wages Advisory Board. 

In most cases, the state is not bound to accept any of the trade union views or propositions in these forums,” reads the report. 

In addition, the participation of the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) in the Labour Advisory Board and Minimum Wages Advisory Board is not very significant in terms of their ability to influence government decisions and/or policies given that their role is purely advisory. 

The researchers write that this was evident when the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs went ahead in 2012 to amend the law to categorise the teaching, health, diamond sorting and veterinary services as essential work.

The amendment required he services to be exempt unionisation despite opposition from both BFTU and Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU). 

“The poor relations between the state and trade unions ultimately breeds mistrust and breakdown in industrial relations in the country- something inimical to national development,” the report said.