Africa-Press – Botswana. As government continues to struggle to pay Ipelegeng workers, Gaborone City Council Mayor, Oarabile Motlaleng says the Council will soon impose stringent working conditions for workers as most if not all are paid for merely just ‘lifting a finger’.
Of late, local government has been battling to settle payments of Ipelegeng workers, which results in late payments, months after completing the work.
However parallel to the issues at hand, Motlaleng is singing a different tune as he says workers have to earn their pay as some are not doing what they are being paid for.
“Batswana are complaining, and I am complaining too, Ipelegeng has turned into an issue that is uncontrollable cause some people just come to work for only just 45 minutes,” Motlaleng sounded the warning bell.
The mayor said it would be a flaw from their end to fail to contain the issue of Ipelegeng as in his perception the workers are failing to take instructions which results in less output by them.
“I will be disappointed in myself as the mayor as well as the councilors and administrative if we fail to control Ipelegeng. It has turned into an animal that is uncontrollable but we will control it,” the mayor warned.
Putting his foot down, the mayor said Ipelegeng workers should brace themselves to dance to the council’s tune.
“If you found yourself applying for an Ipelegeng job, you must know that you will be instructed. Ipelegeng has developed a bad culture where people just come in the mornings and work for literally 45 minutes and sit down,” appalled Motlaleng said.
Fully vested on their idea of seeing through that Ipelegeng delivers, the mayor said he would see it through even if it means losing his council seat in the next general elections.
“Some of the politicians are not saying anything about this issue as they fear losing elections but I am prepared to lose elections if it means that Ipelegeng will work,” he said.
He emphasised that Ipelegeng cannot be going home with taxpayers’ money as workers are not doing anything much to earn that salary.
To combat the issue he has with the workers, Motlaleng said Council will impose stringent working conditions for the employees.
“Every employee should know that they will be taking new instructions as we have developed a new mechanism for labour as they will now have new supervisory rules,” he said.
The mayor said the new strategy will be rolled out immediately to the Ipelegeng employees to ensure that they do earn that money.
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