Government should be in the forefront of promoting labour relations

Public sector during the historic 2011 strike
Public sector during the historic 2011 strike

The stalemate at the bargaining council for the public sector unions’ salary negotiations is a clear indication of sick labour relations in Botswana. The Umbrella For Democratic Change (UDC) is disappointed by the turn of events at the council as more than 100,000 of public sector workers become victims.

The proposed bill by the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration to increase Ministers and Assistance Ministers as well as Special Elected MPs is an insult to the work force. The proposals are just meant to enrich the few Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) activists and starve thousands of the working class who are creators of national wealth. The most urgent issue that the government should be focusing on is resolving public service salaries which have stalled for months now. It is an undisputed fact that the government should be responsible for the promotion of good labour relations in the country through the formulation of laws and policies. The government should therefore be at the forefront fighting and striving to see smooth industrial relations at the workplace.

When the government ratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and ultimately domesticated them, she was communicating to the country and the international community that she is committed in promoting good labour relations. Convention 98, on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining should be respected by the government. It has been domesticated as it is provided for in the Constitution of Botswana; Trade Disputes Act; Public Service Act, Employment Act; Trade Union and Employers Organisations Act, etc.  This is meant to promote good labour relations through collective bargaining. Despite presence of such legal provisions, the government conduct is completely anti labour and is provoking labour unrest in the country. The hide and seek games played by the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) at the council are only frustrating the workers. These frustrations of workers by the government are enough to unleash mass rolling action by both public and private sector employees. Peaceful demonstrations are long overdue and it is time workers took to the streets. It is disappointing to note that the government party is in ‘sick’ comfort and even celebrating and ululating that public sector unions have failed to meet the set deadline on the submission of the 2016/17 salary proposals. As a party to the bargaining council, the government has a duty to make timely proposals and have unions negotiate on their proposal. A government that is serious with good labour relations and has the nation’s interests at heart should always act proactively and not gleefully ambush the workers. Or worse, get excited that the workers have failed to submit on time. It is a very irresponsible government that would rejoice at the suffering of its people.  The conduct of the government will definitely continue to demoralise public sector workers and this will lead to low productivity, hence slowing down economic growth. This conduct proves that the current government is tired and is failing to motivate the workers and stimulate the economy. It is a clear indication and proof that the BDP led government does not care about the working and living conditions of the public sector employees and economic growth and prosperity of this country. An increase in public sector salaries has a direct effect on the salaries of the private and other sectors as they usually respond by increasing their salaries too. As the government gleefully punishes the public sector by unnecessarily dragging the public sector salary negotiations through technicalities, she is also directly hitting on the private sector workers.  This is why the workers continue to lose confidence in the current government.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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