BOPEU, BURS in court over 6%

Oarabile Mosikare | Tuesday June 23, 2015 15:10

After listening to arguments on an urgent application last Thursday, Justice Tapiwa Marumo ordered that BURS was not obliged to confine its “proposed increment on the salaries and allowances, for its own employees, for the year 2015/2016 to the maximum limit awarded by the Government of Botswana to public servants”.

The second respondent was a fellow union, National Amalgmated Local and Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union (NALCGPWU).

Marumo also declared that the decision of BURS to restrict its proposed increment on salaries and allowances amounted to a refusal by the corporate body to negotiate with BOPEU. She also said the restriction of proposed salary increment by BURS amounted to a breach by the organisation of the duty to negotiate in good faith with BOPEU.

Notwithstanding the fact that BOPEU was awarded some concessions, Marumo refused to set aside the decision of BURS to effect the 2015/16 six percent and allowances increment to the employees who are not members of the union. She refused to suspend BURS’ decision to effect the salary increment to employees who are not BOPEU members. The judge also interdicted the first respondent from taking further steps in furtherance of such decision, until conclusion of the negotiations between the parties.

The judge said appropriate costs order shall be made and reasons would follow in due course.

d Training (OSET) programme, life skills programme and scholarships from the various national vocational institutes.

 

Meanwhile, the chairperson for the refugee welfare committee Bhekimpilo Weza appealed to his colleagues to respect the laws of their host nation.

He said that of late, the government has been arresting refugees who leave the camp without permission and end up at the detention centre in the process separating them from their families. “I urge you to always apply for the exit permit if there is need to leave the camp,” said Weza.

He said that the theme “Ordinary People living through Extraordinary Times,” resonates with their real life conditions.

He said that they did not choose to leave their homes let alone to be refugees but were forced to flee their homes leaving their loved ones behind by circumstances beyond their control. “As refugees we request our leaders to build conducive political and economic environment to allow us to return home and contribute to the development of our respective countries,” said Weza.

He further indicated that when refugees arrive in Botswana they are informed of the encampment policy and other laws governing refugees in the country.

He pleaded with government to relax the encampment policy in order to allow them to positively contribute to the economy of Botswana. Weza also requested government to look at the time asylum seekers spend at the Centre for Illegal Immigrants in Francistown before they are released to the refugee camp.