Botswana Government has Increased public Servants Salaries.

Botswana Government has Increased public Servants Salaries. The Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Hon Kabo N.S. Morwaeng convened a meeting with Public Service Unions today Saturday, 8th August 2020 to consult them on the deferred public service salary increases for the 2020/2021 financial year. The deferment was due to economic challenges exacerbated by COVID – 19 pandemic.

Represented at the meeting with the Minister were the Trainers and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) and Botswana Government Workers Union (BOGUWU). He further met the Six (6) cooperating Unions being Botswana Nurses Union, Botswana Public Employees Union, Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union, Botswana Teachers Union, National Amalgamated Local and Central Government and Parastatals Trade Union and Botswana Land Boards and Health Workers Union
The Minister briefed the Union representatives that Government has reviewed the decision to defer public service salary increases in light of the current economic performance as articulated in the Mid Term Review of NDP 11 and Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan. Government has thus reached a conclusion that while COVID 19 continues to challenge our economic performance, a window of opportunity exists to review some decisions. A collective decision has, therefore, been taken that deferment of salary increases be lifted.
It is intended that with effect from 1st September 2020, public officers be paid salary increment, together with the arrears from 1st April 2020. The increases will be as previously agreed with the labour movements, and that is, 10% for Salary Bands “A” and “B” and 6% for “C” and “D” respectively.

The Minister, however, cautioned that while the slight improvement has enabled Government to deliver on its promise to honour collective labour agreements, the economic outlook still remains volatile and uncertain, due to COVID – 19. He stressed that going forward, this will require the highest productivity levels across all sectors of the economy. He impressed upon all public officers to continue doing their best to facilitate economic growth and total transformation.
The Minister further extended his profound appreciation to the Public Service Employees and their Trade Union Leadership, including Batswana, in general for their cooperation, understanding, patience and spirit of nationalism during the current difficult period of global COVID-19 pandemic. He also expressed hope that the spirit of cooperation and understanding displayed by all partners will continue to thrive and flourish in all our citizens during similar difficult future challenges and disasters in future.

Thato Y. Raphaka
PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY FOR PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION