The Secretary General of Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU)- Thusang Butale has lamented that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development- Honourable Dr. Thapelo Matsheka and his Ministry di not involve the labour organizations in planning of the the 2021/2022 Mational Budget Speech.
Speaking earlier today at the press briefing held by Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) and Botswana Federation of Public, Private & Parastatal, Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU), Butale pointed out that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development did not consult them as labour movements. He says as decisions affecting their members were to be taken, the minister were supposed to consult them, in line with convention 144 of International Labour Organization (ILO) which Botswana has ratified.
“As the labour movement, we have noted and view it improper that the government, particularly the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to have sidelined us as federations in the preparation of the budget. It should be noted that former Ministers of Finance have previously engaged with labour movements in the development of the same budget. What has happened contradicts convention 144, because it is not proper for the government to talk about issues affecting workers without prior engagement. It is common cause that the budget speech, which as labour we believe and agree that is anti-Batswana will affect the already poor working Batswana and further impoverish households” Butale underscored.
As a member of the International Community, Botswana ratified convention 144 of ILO in 1997. Convention 144 – Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention was convened at Geneva in the 2nd of June 1976.
Article 2 of the convention states that each Member of the International Labour Organisation which ratifies this Convention undertakes to operate procedures which ensure effective consultations, with respect to the matters concerning the activities of the International Labour Organisation between representatives of the government, of employers and of workers.
Article 3 further states that the representatives of employers and workers for the purposes of the procedures provided for in this Convention shall be freely chosen by their representative organisations, where such organisations exist.
Furthermore, it declares that employers and workers shall be represented on an equal footing on any bodies through which consultations are undertaken.
