Ministers power through 4% amendments
Gothataone Moeng | Friday April 11, 2014 16:12
Yesterday, Kgathi presented Parliament with urgent amendments to three bills providing for the remuneration of parliamentarians, members of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi as well as non-unionised members of the public service.
This was just minutes after the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU), through Francistown South legislator Wynter Mmolotsi, petitioned Parliament to stop Khama’s move to adjust salaries.
The petition is against awarding unionised public employees a unilateral increment, which Mmolotsi argued is on the basis that the President’s decision undermined ongoing negotiations between union and the employer.
Kgathi sought Parliament to amend the Specified Officers (Salaries and Allowances) Act, the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi (Salaries and Allowances) Act and the National Assembly (Salaries and Allowances) Act to allow for the implementation of the decision to increase salaries of the affected officers, with effect from the April 1, 2014.
He argued that the amendments, which were gazetted on Wednesday, need to be debated and passed before today’s scheduled adjournment of the current Parliamentary session, in order to effect the increment timeously.
The bill to amend the Specified Officers Act was yesterday passed onto committee stage, while the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi Amendment bill was still being debated.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Ramadeluka Seretse also presented the Judges Miscellaneous Provisions Amendment Bill, to amend clauses dealing with the remuneration of judges, in order to implement Khama’s decision.
Yesterday, Members of Parliament were disconcerted by the sneaking in of the amendment bills while salary negotiations for unionised employees were still ongoing and with a petition before Parliament.
Selebi-Phikwe West MP, Gilson Saleshando said the move was outside of normal procedure and was tantamount to sowing divisions in the civil service.
Francistown South legislator, Mmolotsi, urged Kgathi to withdraw the bills and consult a report, commissioned by BOFEPUSU, which proves that the economy can withstand a 10 percent salary increase. Mmolotsi added that it would look unseemly if MPs increased their own salaries while civil servants were still in negotiations.
On the other hand, Molepolole South MP Daniel Kwelagobe suggested that non-unionised members should also be provided with a mechanism, such as a Salaries Commissions, to be consulted on their conditions of service.