“Strengthening Social Dialogue For Economic Transformation In The Workplace”
Botswana Council of NGOs (BOCONGO) stands with workers on this auspicious day and any other day. BOCONGO is a natural partner to workers as we both cherish principles of social justice as a vehicle to better life for Batswana and all residents.
There is no doubt workers are the backbone of any economy. The expectation is therefore that the economy must also empower workers. This is what we reflect on today and allow workers to categorically list their concerns. As BOCONGO, we are not oblivious to some of these concerns, which in many cases are valid.
Some of our observations are as follows:
Bargaining right
Let us reflect on whether workers’ commitment has been reciprocated with respect. The handling of the bargaining by workers has been of patronizing nature. The employers, including government do not respect the bargaining right of workers. For instance, workers were not fully consulted, if at all, when the Emergency regulations were compiled during the State of Public Emergency despite the implication they had on workers. This was disrespectful.
Protection and welfare
A good number of workers perished under Covid-19 in the past two years. BOCONGO is concerned that there seemed to have been no protective measures and we believe some of these patriots could have been saved. The situation was magnified at the education sector where teachers perished in significant numbers. BOCONGO believes that the situation could have been mitigated earlier.
Inflation and salaries
BOCONGO is concerned of the continuous increasing of cost of living. In a short period of time we have observed cost of the grocery basket on the uptick. We believe the situation can be mitigated by improving salaries and wages. Our workers deserve decent salaries commensurate with living standards.
Gender based violence and crime
As part of the society workers are also exposed to GBV and crime in general. BOCONGO generally condemns GBV but we are particularly worried it is affecting our engine of the economy, workers. We all know that a compromised engine is no use to that it wishes to drive. We implore unions and employers to do more in containing the situation as just recently UNFPA showed rising statistics, with our country perched at the top. We have also seen rising cases of crime with incidents of CIT heist and other robberies. This is a threat to the nation’s growth and put our workers in danger as they are the ones protecting some of these facilities. We would also want our workers to go home safe, without fear of mugging as it has become common these days.
The youth and unemployment
BOCONGO is concerned of the rising level of unemployment, especially of the youth. Most of our youth are forced to do nefarious tasks just to survive. In the long run this will affect the gains that the country have made overtime. Workers must therefore adopt the issue of unemployment in their programmes because it affects them too.
We are all aware of the enormous responsibility the workers carry in ensuring that we have a functional economy and republic. This is something that no one should ever take for granted. It is important that as we reflect and engage on empowerment of workers, not just within the public service and state owned entities, but the private sector as well, we critically look at our mechanisms for engagement and dialogues between the workers and the employer.
What has been the role of us, the Non-State Actors? How have we claimed our social dialogue space? Do we even have the space as workers to meaningfully influence public policy discourse? It is common expectation that our voice as people is expressed through our elected officials. Can we reflect as workers, on this day, how our elected representatives are actually representative of our interests as workers and citizens? Do we have the confidence that our representative structures, both at the local level and national assembly serve our interests? Workers of the Republic of Botswana, yours is the strongest currency available in the market at the moment. You have the numbers that our policy makers so desperately need. Let’s reflect on this day if we have fully harnessed this critical advantage.
On behalf of the BOCONGO family, I wish all the workers and organized labour movements a very delightful Labour day. Let us use this day to chart a clear path for championing a better life for not only the workers, but vulnerable members of our society; the unemployed, children, the elderly, people living with disability, and others.
Halala babereki halala!
Olebile Machete
Board Chairman
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