The Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) has laid off 200 employees in a move that is likely to be contested before the Industrial Court.
In a letter addressed to staff dated 1st December 2022, Head of Human Resources, Mmamotse Wilkinson states that the number of employees falling within the Union Bargaining Unit that form part of the exit pool is 200.
She added that this “comprises of the following divisions: Finance, Technology information Systems, Consumer Sales, Enterprise Sales, Marketing, Mobile Financial Services, Risk & Internal Audit, Security Services, Service Quality.”
Wilkinson informed the Botswana Telecommunications Employees Union (BOTEU) “that the period of job search started on the 7th October 2022 and elapsed on the 16th November 2022.”
She said employees that formed part of the redundancy pool were given an opportunity for a five (5) weeks job search and those that were successful have since been placed in the new organisational structure. Wilkinson explained that employees that were not successful in looking for a place within the new structure form the exit pool.
“It is on the backdrop of the above that Management has made a decision to release employees in the exit pool on 9th December 2022,” she said.
In a letter addressed to the affected employees Wilkinson reminded them that; “You received a letter informing you that you formed part of the redundancy pool following the development of the new BTC (“To Be”) organisational structure.”
“Subsequent to that, you were then given an opportunity to look for possible placement into the “To Be” structure through a process of a five (5) weeks period for job search which elapsed on the 16th November 2022,” she said.
Wilkinson also indicated that; “I regret to inform you that the Company is unable to retain your services as you have not been placed in any position in the new organisational structure.”
“Your employment with BTC will terminate with effect from the 9th December 2022. If you wish to leave the employ of BTC earlier than the official exit date you will be allowed to do so provided meaningful handover and clearance has been undertaken in line with Clause 4.3.2 and 11.0 of the Resource Optimisation and Exit Guidelines,” said Wilkinson.
BTC has reportedly disregarded a complaint filed with the Commissioner of Labour by BOTEU as it forged ahead with its contentious restructuring exercise which saw 200 employees being laid off.
The Corporation and the Union have been at loggerheads over the restructuring and retrenchment exercise resulting in the later dragging the Corporation to the Labour Office.
The matter ended at the door steps of the Industrial Court. A month ago, BTC was directed by the Industrial Court to hold meaningful consultations with affected employees and members of the union. After what it perceived to be consultations with the union leadership, BTC then announced that it was resuming the halted restructuring and retrenchment exercise insisting that consultations with union representatives had been concluded and “finalised.” But the union expressed concern and later reported BTC again to the Labour Office for allegedly violating labour laws in a row.
A source close to the latest development said the Union was contemplating approaching the Industrial Court seeking redress.
