DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights joins all workers in Botswana in commemorating International Workers Day on 1st May 2003.

DITSHWANELO congratulates all the relevant authorities who have worked to develop the draft Trade Unions and Employers’ Organisations (Amendment) Bill 2003. This Bill is intended to ensure that the labour laws of Botswana are consistent with the principles of those Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which Botswana has ratified. DITSHWANELO urges all relevant authorities to ensure that there is full implementation and monitoring of the ILO Conventions in Botswana.

In 1994 and 1995, DITSHWANELO conducted extensive research into the situation of domestic workers in Botswana. The findings of this research were that domestic workers were largely unaware of their rights as workers and also suffered from violations of their rights. An educational booklet known as Rights of Domestic Workers was produced in 1995. This booklet was revised in 2002 to incorporate issues such as the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers with regard to HIV/AIDS and domestic violence. Funds to revise the booklet were provided by the Freidrich Ebert Foundation.

An informal group of domestic workers called The Domestic Workers Foundation has emerged as a result of the 1994/5 research project. Since 1995, they have been meeting at the DITSHWANELO offices. The monthly forum provides them with the opportunity to air their concerns and seek constructive solutions for them. DITSHWANELO hosts training sessions which empower this group of domestic workers to know their rights both as employees and citizens of Botswana. These empowerment exercises are funded by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) and the Freidrich Ebert Foundation.

Domestic workers play a major role in the development of the society and the economy of Botswana. They participate in the “eradication of poverty” in Botswana as they take care of the home to allow others to work for the development of Botswana. They contribute towards the “eradication of poverty” because they work to support their own families. DITSHWANELO urges that they be accorded the same labour rights as all other categories of workers.

The theme of “Workers rights and eradication of poverty” and the amendment of the labour law are suggestive that a rights based approach is being considered for the alleviation of poverty. DITSHWANELO urges all relevant authorities to adopt a rights based approach to development. This entails locating people at the centre of processes which recognize civil, political, economic, social and cultural aspects of their lives. Vision 2016 incorporates one of our Tswana concepts of “Botho”, which is a principle recognising human dignity and inculcates “the concept of a well-rounded character, who… realises his or her full potential both as an individual and as part of the community to which he or she belongs”.

29 April 2003
Gaborone