The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs has disclosed a concerning trend that menial workers are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace.
Annah Mokgethi told parliament this week that retail, security, and services like cleaning, construction, hotel catering & and entertainment record the highest workforce violations.
She acknowledged that workers in roles such as security guards, shop assistants, and cleaners often face exploitation by their employers regarding labor-related issues. These issues range from delayed payments to unjust dismissals and failure by employers to adhere to mediation rulings.
As a result, her ministry conducts regular labour inspections across various sectors to ensure compliance. She said appropriate actions are often taken against those who violate labour laws. These include penalties in accordance with the Employment Act. She said her ministry also engages in joint labour inspections with other stakeholders to tackle labour issues comprehensively.
Highlighting the effectiveness of these efforts, Mokgethi mentioned that several licenses or permits have been suspended, rejected, or cancelled when entities are found to be in breach of labour regulations.
“This approach yields results as employers find themselves under obligation to comply with the law to obtain the necessary permits or licenses required to operate their businesses,” she said. She noted that the total reported instances of labor violations or issues over the past five years were as follows: 9,415 in 2019, 8,368 in 2020, 8,107 in 2021, 9,352 in 2022, and 9,672 in 2023.
Mokgethi was responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central, Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy, who expressed concern over the growing number of labour disputes, particularly affecting low-wage workers.
“Many cases in the labour department remain unresolved or heard with reports of delay tactics by employers and allegations of bribery and corruption,” Healy told the Minister.
