BMWU accuses court of being partial to Debswana

The Botswana government has been accused of purposely delaying the settlement regarding 461 dismissed Debswana workers. The accusation made by the Mine Workers Union's (BMWU) General Secretary Jack Tlhagale, implied that decision by the Judge President of the industrial court adds to the union's suspicions that the court is favourig Debswana rather than the workers.

Tlhagale handed over a petition to the Minister of Labor and Home Affairs Charles Tibone, regards the courts indifferent attitude towards the workers and mentioned that, "The case of the plight of the 461 dismissed Debswana workers, the majority of whom are still unemployed and eight have since died, has been on the roll for over 24 months and we rightly believe that it should be concluded. This has been attributed to the fact that the failure by the Registrar to honor dates set aside, which we are unhappy with."

Tibone in return replied saying, "As Minister of Labor I will ensure that it is forwarded to the relevant authority for the meting out of fair arbitration of the case that has been pending since the employees' dismissal in August/September 2004. The Union has also filed the case with the International Labor Organisation in Geneva as an international safety net."