At a meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Peter Siele at the Mass Media Complex in Gaborone last Friday, labour officers complained that though there are clear chains of command at the Department of Labour and Social Security and the whole ministry there is outside interference, especially from the executive.
"We are experiencing a lot of challenges especially when you mediate in companies which are owned by ministers and MPs. When you call them for mediation they become very difficult. Re tabogetse ruri, le go kgopiwa re ta kgopiwa (We are always running around scared). Most often we get a lot of unwarranted instructions from Office of the President, ministers and even councillors ordering us on how to mediate in cases. This is wrong and should come to an end. If anything, they should route advice that are reasonable in nature and within the legal framework through the right channels. We do this job through the Trade Dispute Act, which has an outline of procedures and rules which are quite clear," said one of the officers.As the officer continued to list the complaints, Siele interjected and asked if "it is a fact that you receive instructions from OP (Office of the President)?" to which a sizeable number of those in the meeting assented. "Some even walk into our offices," an officer said.
