BMWU expresses concern over HLCC exclusion
Lebogang Mosikare | Monday February 13, 2023 06:00
Chaired by President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the HLCC is a national-level forum that meets twice a year for dialogue between the highest levels of government and private sector leadership. Ministers report on current issues affecting the private sector in their respective areas of responsibility.
When delivering the 2023-24 budget speech earlier this week, Minister of Finance Peggy Serame stated that Parliament has approved Botswana’s Minerals Policy in February 2022. “Amongst the objectives of the new policy are to enhance the domestic economic benefit from minerals development through beneficiation and local value addition activities.
Consequently, the government is in the process of reviewing the key mining legislation, the Mines and Minerals Act, which deals with granting of licences for mineral prospecting and exploration as well as for mining operations,” Serame said.
The proposed amendments, the minister noted, will include provisions for local beneficiation of minerals and meeting local needs for mining products. “Several mining, cutting and polishing companies are currently considering beneficiation and value addition in their development plans, leveraging on advanced technology and emerging market opportunities.
Allow me to single out new innovative technologies aimed at improving human safety and efficiency by mining companies operating in Botswana. I am informed that unmanned specialist mining equipment has been introduced in underground mining operations to extract mineral resources while minimising underground environment human exposure which is key to safety,” said Serame.
She also revealed that a training facility with state of the art simulators has been commissioned in Maun to assist in the skills transfer for local citizen participation in the mining and associated industries. While Serame disclosed government's position in her address about the plans to improve the mining industry, BMWU, a union that represents the interests of workers in the mining sector, has flagged anomalies and discrepancies in the manner in which some of the mining legislation and policies are made.
Responding to a questionnaire from Mmegi from the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, executive secretary of BMWU, Kitso Phiri, expressed concern over government’s exclusion of BMWU from the Mining Sector High Level Consultative Committee, which is chaired by the permanent secretary.
“It is apparent that the model adopted at the HLCC (the Presidential one) is a national social dialogue forum, comprising the tripartite partners being, government, the private sector and labour. In its conception, the HLCC was a bilateral forum between business and government on various legal and policy issues, with labour only having observer status,” said Phiri.
Attempts were subsequently made, Phiri stated, to vary the composition or model of the HLCC owing to pressure from trade unions on the basis of government’s commitment to tripartism and social dialogue upon its ratification of the International Labour Convention (ILO) Convention 144. The Convention on Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards), 1976 (No. 144), promotes application of an essential principle on which the ILO was founded: tripartite social dialogue in the development and implementation of international labour standards. Phiri added: “While the structure of the HLCC has changed, fundamental practices existing before its recompositing continue to date.
The HLCC has not held meetings in almost two years. However, the private sector continues to engage the government without reference to the trade unions.” Phiri said that it was an onerous exercise for the minerals and energy ministry to invite BMWU to participate at the sector level HLCC. However, Phiri said: “The exclusion has been systematic despite international labour standards obligations. Several attempts by BMWU have been made including engaging the National Planning Commission (NPC) which coordinates policy and national strategy frameworks.
The decision by the ministry to exclude labour is an Environmental, social and governance (ESG) irregularity, and a risk concern for investors. If not addressed, the ramification may be far reaching given increased investor interest in Botswana’s mining sector.” ESG is a term used to represent an organisation’s corporate financial interests that focus mainly on sustainable and ethical impacts.
Capital markets use ESG to evaluate organisations and determine future financial performance. As a parting shot, Phiri said: “The just energy transition and the rush for green minerals, including in Botswana will need a fairer, more equitable and environment friendly practices. Social dialogue is a corollary for a just transition and the active participation of trade unions in these forums is imperative. BMWU demands the inclusion of workers in the Mining Sector High Level Consultative Forum and domestication of ILO Convention 14 Weekly Rest (Industry).”