Decent Work: The only sustainable way to accelerate growth

Botswana Federation of Trade Unions ( BFTU) would like to join the world in commemorating world day for decent work amid call by International Labour Organization ( ILO) for wage justice as the running theme for the day. The day is commemorated on the 7th October every year. Decent work according to the ILO refers to productive work for men and women in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. It refers as well to work that delivers fair income, social protection for families, better prospect for personal development and social integration.

It thus suffices to say, decent work proper is premised on four pillars, namely, Employment Creation, Rights at Work, Social Protection and Social Dialogue.

With the global figure of more than 200 million jobs lost to the pandemic by this time last year, and another 100 million more at risk then and large numbers of unemployed people – the vast majority of whom being women – simply dropping out of the labour market.

The call then on the World Day for Decent Work on 7 October 2021 was on every government to develop jobs plans. In many respects we contend that this call is still very relevant notwithstanding the demand for wage justice.

We concur with the ITUC that Decent Work must be at the centre of government actions to bring back economic growth and build a new global economy that puts people first. We believe Decent Work is the only sustainable way to accelerate growth.

BFTU posits that in line with Sustainable Development Goal

No. 8 that aims to promote economic growth and decent work for all, the demand for wage justice is a justified one if we are to achieve by 2030, full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities and equal pay for work of equal pay and equal value.

We maintain that economies grow when more workers have access to jobs and when workers are more productive.

It is against this background that with the support of the ILO, the social partners, namely Government, Business Botswana and the two national labor federations ( BFTU and BOFEPUSU) have adopted the Decent Work Country Programme ( DWCP) with the aim of being able to measure up to the desired extent of observance of the ideals espoused by the ILO under

Decent Work.

BFTU thus notes that the theme for this year’s decent work day is “world day for decent work: wage justice.” Wage justice is viewed as the cornerstone of the social contract between workers, governments and employers that unfortunately has been broken in the interests of corporate greed.

In the recent months the whole world, Botswana included has been experiencing high rates of inflation across most commodities and services such as food, fuel as well as transportation fares. This has obviously impacted adversely on the livelihoods of employees across various sectors of the economy. Despite this situation, minimum salary in most countries remains far less than adequate therefore most people are struggling to get by whereas some even fail to afford the cost of necessity goods such as food. In instances where there would be breakdown of dialogue in a bid to address the plight of the workers, employees end up resorting to industrial action in demand for action to bridge the gap between wages and the cost of living. However they are always faced with violent repression by governments beholden to corporate interests, or in the alternative the threat and reality of losing their jobs.

BFTU therefore joins the global trade union movement in pursuit for wage justice for all workers, formal and informal, wherever they live and whatever work they do. This year’s World Day for Decent Work, is accordingly dedicated to Botswana workers seeking wage justice.

It is by far evident that rampant inflation, driven by profitgouging by powerful corporations that control energy, transport, food and other vital commodities is sending yet more workers and their families into poverty and unable to meet the cost of essentials.

Against this background, and for a more meaningful decent work, wage justice is no doubt a universal requisite. We thus call upon the social partners to recommit to the Decent Work Agenda that places people first.

In the same context, BFTU would like to take this opportunity to call upon law makers in Botswana to recognize that as they urge for a review of their salaries once again, they bear in mind that the cost of living has severely impacted the livelihoods of ordinary people and workers in particular. Especially so in light of concerns for the currently meagre minimum wages which are far less than adequate.