On the 21st of December 2021, the leadership of Botswana Public Employees Union (“BOPEU”) paid a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary to the President. The BOPEU delegation was led by the President of the Union, Ms. Masego Mogwera and her two deputies, Mr. Mothusi Mojela and Mrs. Kenole Makgarebe. The courtesy visit was intended to achieve two main objectives; firstly, the new leadership of BOPEU presented itself before the PSP who is the head of the public service in Botswana to initiate cordial relations with government enclave as the employer party. The leadership of BOPEU noted that in the past few years, the cordial and mutual relationship that has existed from time immemorial between the Union and the Employer party has severely weakened as a result of the instability that characterized the Union and other external factors. The courtesy visit aimed at normalizing these relations which in our view are central towards achieving harmonious industrial relations in the public service.
Secondly and more importantly, the courtesy visit intended to address a myriad of challenges that are confronting BOPEU members in the public service. Such challenges include the lack of progression in the workplace, the varying application of government directives and circulars by different ministries, non-compliance to Court judgments and arbitration awards by government ministries and other matters that are of mutual concern between the Union and the Employer party.
