Over 4,000 backlog cases at Industrial Court

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Thursday March 18, 2010 00:00

 

The minister concerned, Peter Siele made these revelations during the request for P20, 120, 160, recurrent and development budget for 2010/2011.'Cases registered by the end of 2009 stood at 2, 422 compared to 2008, when 1 768 case were registered. Out of the 2, 422 cases, 1, 834 were registered in Gaborone, 388 in Francistown, 120 in Maun and 80 in Selebi-Phikwe. Siele blamed provisions of the Trade Disputes Act for this backlog. In that regard, a Task Force headed by a Judge of Industrial Court was set up.

'The Task Force has recommended some amendments to the Act to improve the dispute resolution process and this includes: increasing number of days to be taken to mediate from 30 to 45 days; and making default awards and settlement awards enforceable,' Siele said.

In further efforts to address the backlog, the Industrial Court has maintained circuit courts in Maun, Francistown and Selebi Phikwe throughout the years.

'Since February 2010 the court has increased circuit coverage to include Kasane, Ghanzi, Jwaneng, Palapye and Letlhakane. Provision will also be made for the court to sit and register cases as and when the need arises,' said Siele.

 Siele added that the time for holding circuit courts has also been increased from 26 to 33 weeks and expressed hope that the new measures would help in drastically reducing the backlog. He also revealed that the new court building that was completed in May last year has since been occupied.