Debswana, the country’s driver of economic growth of decades threatens to shed hundreds of diamond jobs it has emerged.
Reports indicate that an undisclosed number of Debswana employees were this week uncertain of their future as the company is undergoing a retrenchment exercise which is expected to shed an undisclosed number of jobs.
While she declined to disclose the number of employees who are expected to be cut by Debswana, spokesperson Agatha Sejoe confirmed on Friday that, “Considering the current economic environment, and the Company’s commitment to protecting jobs, a decision has been taken that any loss of employment will be restricted to Voluntary Separation and not compulsory retrenchment to limit the impact on employment.”
Sejoe has said: “Through the assessments and reviews on Resource Rationalisation and Outsourcing/Privatisation, we have been able to determine the impact of these processes on the workforce and have since communicated such to affected employees.”
Sejoe said: “For this purpose, we have, as guided by the country’s employment laws, notified all employees in the affected work areas/job categories, including the Union and the
Commissioner of Labour, and have ensured continued meaningful and open consultations with all affected employees and the Union as and when necessary.”
Chronicling events that could have led to the current restructuring and retrenchment exercise, Sejoe explained that “As reported in previous stakeholder engagements, Debswana kickstarted the delivery of its 2024 strategy in 2020.”
“Key to these deliverables is the People Transformation strategic pillar which is the driver and enabler of the strategy through initiatives such as Workforce planning and Future Skills planning amongst other,” said Sejoe.
Asked if Debswana has started to issue letters to some of its employees in various departments, Sejoe said “In that respect, the Company has been making assessments on certain aspects of its business operations that are necessary to realise the strategy aspirations.”
She explained that the Organisational Design initiative is underpinned by four (4) pillars which are central to our current assessments. One of the pillars is Asset Optimisation/Asset Closure: “We have already managed to successfully close and place on care and maintenance two significant assets being, Orapa Plant 1 and Damtshaa Mine, through seamless partnership with the Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) in the period 2020/2021,” said Sejoe”.
Sejoe said the other pillar is privatisation and Outsourcing: “We have been exploring opportunities to optimise some of our processes by way of privatisation and outsourcing, with a view to also facilitate growth of citizen businesses aligned with Government’s aspirations. To this end, we have developed a robust Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP) fully supported by an Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development Programme which will in turn drive our privatisation and outsourcing initiatives.” Sejoe added that; “we have recently signed the Outsourcing and Privatisation Agreement with our Union partners to guide execution of Outsourcing and Privatisation identified opportunities especially as relates to mitigating impact on employees and enabling those who desire to participate in the process.”
On the issue of resource rationalization, Sejoe said: “We have been exploring opportunities for optimising our structures, so that we are better positioned to deliver the strategy of the Company. The exercise includes, amongst others, an assessment of current and future staffing requirements as we prepare for the ever changing and unpredictable future state.”
Commenting on the aspect which is technology and digitization, Sejoe explained: “We are also looking into available opportunities for enabling the business through technology and digitisation in alignment with the global transformation in the industry,” she further indicated.
“We desire to adopt enabling technology to help transform our Mines to become smart and connected to improve productivity and efficiency.”
On whether or not the company consulted the relevant union regarding the looming retrenchment exercise, Sejoe said: “We are not at liberty to speak on behalf of the Botswana Mining Workers Union.
“We recommend that you refer this question to the BMWU representatives.”
In a brief interview, BMWU’s secretary general, Maenge Maenge would not be drawn into discussing the looming retrenchments saying talks between the union and Debswana on the possible retrenchment were at an initial stage.
