We feel neglected - DIS agents
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday March 29, 2019 18:00
The DIS agents complain that it has been 10 years since they last got salary adjustments, pointing out that their counterparts at Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Botswana Police Services (BPS) have a reason to smile come April.
They are shocked that their director general, Peter Magosi is silent on this. The reviews for the BDF and BPS will be implemented effective April 1, 2019.
“It is time we get salary increase. We cannot be neglected when we are the ones dealing with the security of the President and the country. The painful part is that we are not even progressing in terms of promotions,” said a source.
“Of course Magosi has inherited this problem because he is our new boss, but he should look into this matter urgently because this is going to affect delivery in our work place. We have been neglected for a very long time and every time when the issue is raised we are being threatened.”
Another source said their conditions of service have to be looked into and the issue of overtime must also be addressed.
The source added that during the former DIS boss Isaac Kgosi era, the old agents were neglected as he was promoting the new ones only and they do not want the same scenario to happen again.
However, Magosi said he was concerned about staff welfare of his employees.He said in order to rectify the issue of salary increase, they have to benchmark with other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to see how they were paying intelligence employees.
“After we had finished with benchmarking, we will then make a proposal to government on review of salary increase. I cannot convince the government about how my employees should be paid if I don’t have a proper proposal,” Magosi said.
He explained that the BDF and BPS had their salaries approved in that format as they had long submitted their proposals on salary reviews and the government gave it a nod. Magosi said he did not want to follow the old procedure as it would disadvantage his employees looking at the type of job they were doing. “I really care about the welfare of my staff, that is why I have converted all funds to improve their accommodation throughout the country and their offices. It is important that our employees’ accommodation is in a good state. Some of their houses needed to be renovated and they cannot deliver properly at work if they do not have proper accommodation.”
The government recently announced the approval of the BDF and BPS pay structure alongside that of the public service.
Meanwhile, Magosi confirmed that he had asked directors at their offices to talk to employees to desist from leaking information to some influencial people (names known to this publication).
“Our Act does not allow them to do so. Yes, the directors had a meeting with them on the matter. I know those who are taking official information to (he named the persons),” Magosi said.
“Indeed we are going to take action against such culprits if they continue doing that. We are not saying it is wrong to be a friend to (he mentioned names), but what is wrong is to discuss official information with them.” Efforts to reach the people named were futile.