15 August 2011     ICEM InBrief     Botswana

The ICEM affiliated trade union in Botswana, the Diamond Sorters and Valuators (BDSVU), reacted angrily to the government renewing the diamond industry’s classification as an essential service in June that would effectively deny workers and trade unions of the sector their legitimate rights.

The union, under the leadership of General Secretary Jacob Mpasopi, was particularly incensed that they heard of the decision for the first time through local media, and were never consulted. The BDSVU is the main stakeholder of the industry in the southern Africa nation.

Mpasopi points to the ILO Committee of Experts’ definition of essential services as services in which “the interruption of which would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the whole or part of the population.” Indisputably, this definition cannot be applied to the finished diamond sector of Botswana.

The BDSVU has struggled hard to achieve recognition agreements with several employers in the sector, formalizing negotiation, and dispute resolution procedures. All of these gains are put at risk by the unilateral decision by Peter Siele, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs.

The ICEM fully supports its affiliate BDSVU in its call for this determination to be reversed.