Shops, Security Companies Ill-treat Batswana - MPs
Pini Bothoko | Monday March 20, 2017 17:11
During Parliament session recently MPs told the House that some Batswana are suffering at the hands of greedy companies offering low payment despite long hours and continued hard work. What has them even more worried is the fundamental mismatch that persists between the kinds of jobs workers want and the kinds that employers struggle to fill that entail long shifts, odd hours and low payments.
They gave an example of security guards, waiters and shop assistants who usually take home payments as little as P1,000 or less per month.
The MPs stated their displeasure when commenting towards the committee supply of the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development that was presented by minister Tshenolo Mabeo.
The MP for Gabane/Mmankgodi, Pius Mokgware said that the minister should consider visiting security companies to appreciate how they do things and observe how they mistreat and abuse Batswana. “They do not provide them with full uniform, they do not pay them on time, they also hire them on temporary basis giving them monthly contracts and they fire them from their job as they please,” Mokgware said.
Mokgware added that other employees who are struggling are those who work in the diamond polishing company in his constituency, who for a long time have been complaining about their welfare.
He said that their payments are low and they are using harmful chemicals without putting on protective clothing in a place without enough ventilation.
The MP for Molepolole North, Mohammed Khan said the issue that Parliament has to review and consider very seriously is that of payments of workers. “It is very important that we understand that our payments in Botswana are rather low when compared to some of our counterparts in the region. And yet, we have had independence prior to some of these countries surrounding us,” Khan said.
He said that government should be advanced more so that the country has the advantage of the wealth comparative to its population, as compared to the other countries.
Khan stated that Botswana has an added advantage to drive the agenda of having a fair pay for its workers.
“Let me just give you a typical example of what I am speaking of. If you look at the major supermarkets that are being run in our country they have a high employment role.”
He added: “Their pay as compared to the other operations across the borders as in Mafikeng, you find that are vastly different. You take a teller here in Botswana as opposed to a teller in South Africa and you find theirs is double to ours”.
Khan said it goes without saying that if the workers earn reasonably well, the economy of the country will be boosted because the worker will have more money to spend.
The MP for Ramotswa, Samuel Rantuana shared sentiments with other MPs that some companies ill-treat Batswana, especially chain stores who force workers to work long hours and pay them slave wages.
“Their payments are a worry. They are paid P4.95 per hour, these, a slave wage because they are paid P900 per month, whilst they are making a lot more money for those chain stores,” Rantuana said.