Botswana Govt supports abuse of workers in Zim, Swaziland – BFTU

Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) has expressed worry that Botswana government is supporting the violation of workers' rights in neighbouring Zimbabwe and Swaziland.

Mmegi reported that BFTU said that they were shocked when Botswana stood to support the two Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states for violation of workers' rights at the recent International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

BFTU president Bohithetswe Lentswe said that the governments of both Zimbabwe and Swaziland appeared before the committee of application of standards for violation of right to organise and collective bargaining and right to freedom of association and protection of the right to organise respectively.

He said that in the case of Zimbabwean government it was observed that the committee had for the past years discussed the government's flagrant disregard for the most basic freedom of association rights.

He said that Botswana speaking on behalf of SADC as the chair of the regional bloc said that there is no need for any intervention from the ILO as it noted progress in addressing the issues by both governments.

In the Swaziland case, Lentswe said that it was noted that it is the seventh consecutive time the case was discussed in the conference committee and the country had been examined 14 times, but Botswana government again said that the Swaziland government was progressing to implement the convention.

"The government said that there is progress in Zimbabwe as there are constitutional amendments adopted in 2013, which formed a good basis for addressing the concerns raised by the commission of inquiry regarding compliance with the convention," said Lentswe.

However, Lentswe said that BFTU does not agree with the government on the situation in Zimbabwe, as it has been a recurrent case before the committee due to

gross breaches of the provisions of conventions and called for the conference to send a delegation to Zimbabwe to assess and help the Zimbabwean government address its issues with trade unions.

"There are severe breaches, notably the serial and brazen physical and psychological attacks on workers and their trade union leaders," he said.

"The situation had not changed substantially as harassment and intimidation were still waged against workers and trade unions and had impacted the process of collective bargaining. The government had failed to align its laws and practices with the requirements of the convention."

"The Botswana government noted with satisfaction the significant progress made by the convention as amendments have been tabled in Swaziland parliament to create a conducive environment for effective social dialogue while saying this was evidenced by the registration of federations of trade unions. Botswana expressed confidence that SADC would address the issues."

Lentswe said that this was wrong coming from SADC chair. He said as the World of Work actors, they strongly believe in social dialogue and condemn the decision of Botswana to condone "bad-boy behaviour". He added that the failure by Zimbabwean government to implement the convention has resulted in high number of illegal immigrants to Botswana.

He said that the situation in Swaziland is bad and needs ILO intervention as the government continue to violate the fundamental right of freedom of association and protection of the right to organise. He further said that they were happy that the conference heeded their plea for intervention to send a commission to assess the situation in both countries.