The Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) says it supports the government’s decision of reinstatement of workers after holding mediation talks with government negotiating team and the unions.
BOCCIM President, Modiri Mbaakanyi, addressed press conference on Thursday and said that BOCCIM has been aware that unions are not happy with the re-employment, as this could pose the possibility of job terminations. He said that BOCCIM has suggested that the unions assess the disadvantages of the re-employment.
“We need to focus on our priorities of economic growth and diversification and the relationship between the two parties concrete effort for resolution,” said Mbaakanyi.
According to Mbaakanyi, BOCCIM has been assigned to ask those on strike to re-apply for their posts and those applications that are by any occurrence rejected, be dealt with as a separate issue and be given the deserved time it needs for resolution.
He stated BOCCIM has met the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mokgweetsi Masisi, as well as the Director of Public Service Management who have assured the organization that their major focus was to bring back things to normal.
“There is no official agreement but a number of pointers have been agreed on by all relevant parties,” said Mbaakanyi.
BOFEPUSU Secretary General, Andrew Motsamai, told Sunday Standard that their position on the issue has been re-instatement of workers. He said they are happy for support they got from BOCCIM, and the Botswana Council of Churches as well as other unions.
“The Court of law is open for everyone and it is there for justice,” said Motsamai.
Motsamai said that they have been ready in assisting and stopping the protracted strike, which is having negative impact on the economy of the country. He also credited BOCCIM and the leadership of BOFEPUSU to speeding up the resolution process.
“Our preference is reinstatement as this would assure workers of no loss of benefits as well as getting the previous jobs back,” said Motsamai.
Meanwhile, BOCCIM Vice President, Thuli Johnson, stated that the public and private sector’s recovery is fragile. He said BOCCIM is disappointed by the acts of violence that occurred, which have also had an effect on business continuity in the country. He said the country will also suffer as Tax revenue will also be affected as businesses collapsed.
“A key lesson learnt was that we need to have positive employee and employer relations,” said Johnson.
