Africa-Press – Botswana. In an effort to explore innovative initiatives, policies, and strategies for sustainable job creation and technological advancement, the Institute for Labour and Employment Studies (ILES) is gearing up for the 2024 annual Labour Conference.
The CEO Mr Shandukani Hlabano confirmed during a press briefing on Tuesday that the event was scheduled for June 20-21, 2024, at Fairgrounds Holdings in Gaborone.
With a focus on addressing disruptions caused by technology in the labour market, industry leaders have been invited to participate in discussions about embracing these changes.
Mr Hlabano emphasised the importance of collaboration between the business sector, government, and trade unions to shape the future work environment through actionable recommendations.
As a vital social dialogue forum involving government, the business community, and labour, the annual labour conference facilitated by ILES aims to foster continuous engagement among key players.
Mr Hlabano stressed the significance of adapting to the dynamic and precarious nature of the labour market by encouraging ongoing interaction among social partners.
He said the coming labour conference was promising to bring a memorable two-day experience. “We are happy to confirm that the conference will be held as planned,” he said. He said it was prudent to update the media on progress and preparations for the labour congress.
Under the theme, A Job-Rich Economy: Leveraging Technologies for Sustainable Decent Work, the upcoming conference promises to provide a platform for showcasing innovative solutions to challenges within society.
Mr Hlabano highlighted the necessity of local ingenuity and innovation to drive the country’s digital growth and emphasised the importance of collective efforts and a conducive environment for development.
“We always wait for solutions from the developed world. We believe it is important that it is time we stand at the frontiers of knowledge and innovation, so that with time we do not just wait for solutions from others. We should come up solutions to challenges inherent in our society,” he said.
Furthermore, as the conference aims to launch a workers’ application developed by a Motswana, it seeks to overcome challenges hindering technological advances, such as limited funding and working in isolation.
However, he was of the view that those with the brains to drive the country’s digitisation drive were somehow handicapped as they encountered challenges restricting their innovations.
The event serves as an opportunity for individuals with technological expertise to demonstrate their contributions to driving positive change in the labour sector.
With a call for collaborative action from all stakeholders, including government and private sectors, the Labour Conference underscores the urgency of addressing current labour market issues and leveraging technology for sustainable and decent work practices.
ILES board member, Ms Galaletsang Dintsi said the theme of the conference was informed by what was happening in the labour market and therefore focused on urging all concerned stakeholders to address challenges at hand.
She said the conference was a platform for interaction on labour issues, where labour social partners were brought under one roof and dialogue.
She said leveraging technology for sustainable decent work, was in the view that the work environment was evolving and therefore necessary to encourage the adoption and use of technology.
“It is important to interrogate our relevance, contribution and readiness of players in the labour industry to the advancing technology,” she said.
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