The Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, International Labour Organization (ILO), Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU), Business Botswana (BB) and Botswana Federation of Public Sectors Union (BOFEPUSU) signed the second generation Botswana Decent Work Country Programme (BDWCP) 2020-2024 on February 18th 2020 at the Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC).

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was an important milestone for the country. This was a demonstration of the continued cooperation between the country and the International Labour Organisation (ILO); and the commitment to create opportunities, such as promoting a favourable business environment to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), to enable women and men to obtain productive and decent work in conditions of equity, security and human dignity.
A tripartite drafting committee made of representatives from Government, Employers and Workers spearheaded the development of BDWCP 2020/2024.

The DWCP’s promote decent work as a key component of national development strategies and organise ILO knowledge, instruments, advocacy and cooperation at the service of tripartite constituents in a results-based framework to advance the Decent Work Agenda within the fields of comparative advantage of the Organization.The objective of this Decent Work Country Programme is to promote workers rights, productive and decent employment opportunities, enhances social protection and strengthens social dialogue in Botswana.

The programme was formulated through consultative engagements with representatives from Government (Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, National Strategy Office, Directorate of Public Service Management, and Ministry of Local Government, among others). Organized Labour (Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) and Botswana Federation of Public Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU); Business Botswana (BB); and the ILO Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa.This DWCP builds upon lessons learnt from the previous DWCP.

The goal of the BDWCP 2020-2024 is to contribute to Botswana’s progress towards the achievement of full and productive employment and decent work for all. To realise this goal, the constituents identified the top three priorities as:

• Sustainable Employment Creation particularly for young women and men ;
• Improved Quality Social Protection and Conditions of Work for all;
• Effective Labour Market Governance Institutions and Practices

The Minister, Honourable Minister Mpho Balopi in his remarks highlighted the importance of leveraging on the ILO Decent Work Initiative: “The Government Agenda is to transform to a knowledge – based economy. Botswana’s drive for transformative changes in the world of work therefore calls for us to leverage on such initiatives as the ILO Decent Work Initiative.’’

ILO DWT/CO Pretoria Director Dr Joni Musabayana emphasised ILO’s support in the implementation of this second generation DWCP: ” As the ILO, we are here today to encourage the Government of Botswana and the Social Partners to implement a DWCP that will enable ALL to deliver services that are the building blocks for making real and positive changes in the working lives of women and men of Botswana. As always, our role as the ILO is to support you in this process and help you to realise your national aspirations.’’

In his closing remarks, the minister said: ‘’In conclusion, let me assure you that it is our belief, as a Government, that investing in decent work, is not only a commitment to fairness and justice but also a move towards better economic performance, more effective public policy and better governance.’’
The signing of this programme, will pave way for implementation of the BDWCP. The event was attended by representatives from Workers organisations, Employers, and from the Ministry of Labour Productivity and Skills Development.