PRESS STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY 2008

FAIR TRADE AND RESPECT FOR WORKER’S RIGHTS - IMPERATIVES FOR DECENT WORK AND DECENT LIFE
DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights joins all workers in Botswana and around the world in commemorating International Workers Day on 1st May 2008. 
DITSHWANELO congratulates the Government of Botswana for recognising the importance of introducing minimum wages for domestic workers and agricultural employees by including them in the new Revised National Policy on Incomes, Employment, Prices and Profits (2005) which was approved by Parliament in April 2007.
In accordance with the current roadmap for the future of Botswana which emphasises, democracy, development, dignity and discipline, DITSHWANELO believes that domestic workers, like all other employees, should be treated with dignity.  DITSHWANELO continues to receive reports of unfair working conditions and ill-treatment of domestic workers by their employers.  Domestic workers are currently entitled to four (4) paid public holidays while other employees are entitled to eight (8) paid public holidays. We request the Government of Botswana  to take account of the concerns of domestic workers and ensure that they are enabled to work in a more favourable environment.
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 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.

Domestic workers play a major role in the development of the society and the economy of Botswana. Workers, at all levels, if empowered,  can provide the impetus for social change as occurred recently in South Africa when members of the South African Transport and Allied Union (SATAWU) refused to offload the cargo of weapons and ammunition for the Zimbabwean Government from the An Yue Jiang.  This was because they recognized their role as active participants in the development of democracy in South Africa and the region..

DITSHWANELO recommends that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs regularly engages with Domestic Workers through various fora which empower and enable domestic workers to participate in decisions which affect them. 

30 April 2008
Gaborone