Interns exploited and sexually abused
Government and private companies pay them slave wages – MP Keorapetse
Government and private companies exploit interns by making them perform substantive work and yet paying slave wages. MP for Selibe- Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse said it is disheartening to note that there is very little protection in the case of this abuse, which is perpetuated on interns by Government, parastatals, public enterprises and private sector employers, which are making profit.
“The reality is that internship rarely provides a path to employment. In fact, there is no link between recruitment at entry level and internship, there is no link. “Those that have experience derived from internship in many cases have been overlooked in favour of those without experience.
“I do not know about other Members of Parliament ( MPs) but I have been receiving reports that interns are treated like second class staff in many Government departments and parastatals.
“I have even received reports of sexual harassment. I do not know as I say about other MPs but I have received such reports. I have received reports of abuse such as turning Degree interns into personal assistants of those holding substantive positions. “They run errands for their bosses. They are sent to buy lunch. They collect dry cleans,” he told Parliament when debating a motion to request Government to consider increasing the internship allowance from P1 420 per month to P3 000 taking into consideration the working hours and cost of living. The motion was tabled by MP for Palapye Onneetse Ramogapi. Keorapetse stated that the Internship Programme is intended to provide young people with experience and a taste of working environment, in some instances, provide them with a clinical and other hands- on training. The MP pointed out that the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Tumiso Rakgare has failed dismally to update Parliament on the extent to which this programme has worked or has achieved its intended objectives. Keorapetse said interns coverup for substantive employees and there is general disrespect and other inhumane and degrading treatment of interns. “I wish the Minister could attend to these problems. I had indicated that there are problems relating to employment of interns.
“For instance as I have indicated, there is no linkage between the Internship Database and the Graduates Database. Now, what are the solutions proposed by Ramogapi? “First, he was saying, tighten the guidelines Minister, stop the slave wages that are paid to interns. In fact, where interns work eight hours, perform duties that are performed by substantive employees and have served for a reasonable amount of time, our view is that they must be paid fulltime wages. “When they start, Ramogapi is proposing P3 000, and to try and trivialise this, we hear from the other side of the aisle saying, the figure has just been suggested without being substantiated. No, Ramogapi has talked about this figure, that it is a World Bank figure,” he argued. Keorapetse told Parliament that the World Bank has revealed that in Botswana a family cannot live with earnings of less than P4 600. “They are also telling us that the average; I think of the last two years, P2 700 to P3 600 when we get the average, it is above P3 000. “That is where we get the figure. We get the figure again from the Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) manifesto. We had said that the living wage should be packed at P3 000 and we are still saying so. It is not an imaginary figure.”
He indicated that the Botswana Democratic Party led government has not explained where they got the P3 000 plus that is paid to SHE officers who are not degree holders, but are Form 5 leavers.
“They are not even telling us where they got the figure of P1 400. So, we are saying, be considerate, and pay Interns at least minimum of P3 000.
“That is what Honourable Ramogapi is saying. Audit companies and parastatals, on exploitation of Interns; call them to meetings.
“Do surveys and get information from Interns and get first- hand information in terms of how they are treated in their work environment,” Keorapetse argued.
The motion was defeated.