Africa-Press – Botswana. Government will not tolerate any labour law violation and worker exploitation hence promotes decent work environment.
Officiating the diamond stakeholders meeting with the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs in Gaborone yesterday, the portfolio Minister, Major General Pius Mokgware appealed to players in the diamond industry to value their workers.
He said based on the current prevailing circumstances one was left to wonder if the sector was a curse to its value.
Maj. Gen. Mokgware said the industry must comply with the labour laws and ensure that the value and shine of diamonds reflected on the industry workers. He said the reform was for players in the diamond value chain to come together and engineer measures to improve the work environment and welfare of employees.
Minister Mokgware said encounters with companies in the diamond industry showed some difficulties in establishing the office responsible for the well-being of the workers.
“When dealing with labour, we are tossed between the offices of the manager, human resource manager and director. We are left to wonder as to who is responsible for the well-being of employees,” said Minister Mokgware.
He said government had in the near past engaged in labour inspections and diamond companies and businesses which were prompted by frequent complaints from employees.
He said most of the companies were found to be in violation of labour laws, with some encountering painful experiences and getting paid below the recommended mark.
“Some companies in the diamond industry are taking advantage of the desperate situation that the young people were found in as a result of unemployment. They are subjected to exploitation, sexual harassment such as rape and other sexual violations,” said the minister.
Maj. Gen. Mokgware said it was important to work together to ensure that diamonds were a blessing to the workers of the industry.
“We exploit the people we are supposed to guide, grow and mould into responsible future leaders. Use of foul and abusive language was common with the industry” he said adding that the diamonds must not be used to hurt instead people who work in the industry must shine.
Minister Mokgware said some companies in the diamond did not provide their employees with medical aid cover, proper clothing suffering injuries that could have been avoided and being exposed to other health hazard.
He observed that most of the companies in the diamond business that were covered by the inspection did not have proper training plans, therefore making it difficult to even have a succession plan.
He said non-payment of workers who were subjected to work beyond the stipulated hours was one of the notable concerns.
Minister Mokgware added that the workers who were determined to fight for their rights were somehow eliminated from the system.
Minister Mokgware said the ministry was equally unsettled by the high numbers of employees that were retrenched by the companies in the diamond industry.
He said the labour inspection that was done in May-June 2023 had revealed that some 400 employees were retrenched under questionable circumstances with non-performance of the sector used as the primary reason for such an act.
Therefore, Minister Mokgware said companies must submit returns and audited financial statements to justify performance of the company.
He said in an effort to tighten the labour laws and address labour issues, he would during the winter Parliament table a bill for the amendment of the Labour and Employment Act, therefore appealing to all players in the diamond business to associate themselves with the draft document and provide their input.
He said another bill to be tabled would be on occupational health.
One of the ministry’s mandate is to ensure productivity in the workplace and the minister said currently, productivity level in the country was at 0.44 per cent.
He said government was losing huge sums of money as a result of failure to comply with labour laws, adding that his ministry was to settle a debt of P123 million as a consequence of non-compliance with labour laws.
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