Motshwarakgole’s P10m exit package
Will be engaged by the union as Business Consultant for 3 yearsExecutive Secretary Rabasimane Union applies for a loan to settle exit packages of second phase on voluntary early exit claim
Long serving labour veteran, Johnson Motshwarakgole is expected to pocket millions of pula when he exits the employ of National Amalgamated Local and Central Government, and Parastatal Workers Union ( NALCGPWU) as Chief Executive Officer.
The veteran unionist who is estimated to pocket around P10 million exit package leaves the employment of the union when he is left with three years to retire. Under the union constitution, retirement age is 70 years.
Motshwarakgole’s application has been considered in the second phase of the voluntary early exit process. The highest bought out employee in the first phase was the Insurance and Investment Manager who was also on a fixed contract pocketing P1 525 687. 50.
At the time of termination – 29th of October 2021 – the manager was earning P60 500 per month. The P1.5 million according to documents from the union is before tax deduction and loans in which the union was a guarantor in terms of the union’s Early Exit Package on or before 5th November 2021.
Motshwarakgole leaves at a time when some members of the union have been calling for his sacking arguing that he has held the union to ransom. It has been argued that he was the mastermind behind the union’s failure to hold an elective congress and accused of nepotism and favourtism in the workplace.
He has however dismissed all the claims indicating that the union cannot hold the congress because of COVID- 19 as it has a large membership and the number of delegates expected would be in violation of the COVID- 19 protocols.
Botswana Guardian has learnt that during a National Executive Committee ( NEC) meeting held last week, Motshwarakgole requested to be released and take up the Voluntary Early Exit package through the Early Exit Policy of the union.
Even though he would no longer be at the helm of the union management, Motshwarakgole would now be engaged as a business consultant for a period of three years.
Executive Secretary Robert Rabasimane confirmed that Motshwarakgole is voluntarily exiting the employment of Manual Workers Union. He said during the restructuring process, the most paid employee pocketed P1 525 687. 50 and the least got P150 375. 00.
“It is a fact on record that Motshwarakgole also applied for the voluntary exit and like others his request was acceded to. Therefore, the administrative wing of the National Amalgamated Local Central Government Parastatals Workers Union is headed by Elsinah Botsalano and the Chief Executive Officer,” stated Rabasimane.
Rabasimane would however not be drawn into discussing the alleged lucrative package of the outgoing CEO as the highest paid employee. He stated that the NEC took the resolution to employ Motshwarakgole as a consultant to assist the new team which is now at the helm of the union. Rabasimane will now become deputy CEO.
“Of course, we have made lucrative packages for our employees who applied for the voluntary exit including those who have taken us to court. Motshwarakgole will be assisting us as we go through this succession and development phase of the union.
“He would be working flexible hours and will be coming as and when the need arises unlike when he was a full- time employee. This arrangement is due to the request that was made by the NEC in its meeting last week and he accepted.
“He would be helping in the transition and development phase for the three year period,” Rabasimane said in an interview on Wednesday this week.
He said all those that have applied for voluntary exit have been paid. He would however not be drawn into discussing claims that the union has applied for a loan with Bank Gaborone to finance the exit packages and operational costs.
Rabasimane dismissed claims that things have not been done according to the book especially the restructuring process.
“As a union with the interest of workers at heart there is no how we could do that. We did everything by the book following the 27th March 2021 NEC meeting resolution. There is no how voluntary exit could be said to be unfair.
“Section 25 of the Employment Act has set a minimum of one month notice payment but we paid our employees seven ( 7) months’ notice. We have put P7000 as relocation payment which is not catered for in the Employment Act,” he explained.
Other officers who have requested to be included in the second phase are Education and Training Manager Simon Kgaoganang, Union Organiser Mosala Phokontsi and Human Resource Manager Samuel Molaodi.
According to Rabasimane all these people will be sharing their experience and wisdom as long- term serving employees of the union.