Giving a vote of thanks at the official opening of Rail Park Mall in Gaborone this week, Ntuane said he took personal gratification in the matter because it followed the minister's undertaking on March 6 after his question in Parliament on February 15. "As we all know, the unrelenting rise in the cost of living, including food, rent, transport and essential utilities must be addressed urgently," he said. But even after the review, Ntuane argued, the minimum wage could never be enough to meet the average citizen's basic needs.
It was therefore important that employers do not hide behind the stipulated amount "but also consider paying over the minimum wage where they can", he said. He called for a win-win situation in which employers and employees agreed on a smart partnership where the employee went the extra mile, "and in recognition of this, the employer will pay above the minimum wage". Ntuane said the opening of the mall had created job opportunities for many young Batswana and praised the government, adding that it could not be expected to create employment for all citizens. Therefore he commended Triple PPP developers "for not only providing an alternative and convenient shopping destination for Gaborone's growing population, but also registering another milestone in our efforts against joblessness".
