PASDEC employees end strike

Tumelo Mouwane | Wednesday April 19, 2017 15:23

Over 500 employees went on strike last week Monday at the harness manufacturing company demanding salary raiser and response to their alleged concerns on welfare issues. Amongst some of the concerns they raised were that they worked without proper safety clothing.

On Thursday, the company’s Chief Executive Offcier (CEO), Kevin Patther arrived in the country to address the employees alongside the town leadership. In an interview, the employees’ representative committee vice chairperson, Kabelo Phuthego said following meetings with the CEO and ‘stakeholders’, they have agreed to return to work. He said the company has agreed to address all their concerns by end of July.

“We have agreed to go back to work following the intervention of the CEO and stakeholders being Lobatse town leadership. Lobatse town clerk, the district commissioner and senior law enforcement officers came to address us on Thursday and we are satisfied with what was agreed at the meeting. The employer has increased our salaries but more issues still need to be given proper attention.

“We have agreed that at least by end of July, all our concerns must have been addressed. The town leadership advised us that PASDEC has not yet settled since they just began business in Botswana not long ago and we listened to them. We began work on Saturday and we are willing to work extra hard to push production,” he said. 

PASDEC publicity officer, Mike Mortimer could not be reached for comment at the time of going for press yesterday, as his mobile numbers were unreachable.