Sello Motseta
10th January 2021
A team of 15 senior managers at the capacity constrained Botswana Qualifications Authority(BQA) who were employed on fixed term contracts have filed charges of unfair dismissal after they were unilaterally dismissed by the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer(CEO) on the 31st March 2020, arguing that they be immediately reinstated or alternatively paid 60 months compensation.
The complainants who are members of National Amalgamated Local Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union, which is duly recognized as a bargaining agent for its members and assumed position since August 2011 had agreed with BQA management on the 20th June 2016 to find ways not to disadvantage union members in the renewal of their contracts.
“The employer has violated an agreement concluded with unions on ensuring that they would transition young employees especially to permanent and pensionable contracts once the transition period had run its course,” said Johnson Motshwarakgole, Secretary General of the Manual Workers Union.
At a meeting held on the 21st March 2019, the Botswana Qualifications Authority(BQA) and the Union agreed that all the employees of BQA on fixed term contracts would convert to permanent and pensionable terms upon expiration of their fixed term contracts.
The BQA spokesperson has declined to respond to a questionnaire addressed to the BQA Chief Executive Executive(CEO) seeking clarification on the logic of the ongoing retrenchments. BQA has complained of capacity constraints when facing criticisms over delays in accreditation and assessments of learning institutions around the country. It has often complained that it has manpower constraints.
It is not clear why the current Chief Executive Officer who has barely been in office for a year believes that firing its management will help organization in delivering on its mandate.
The case is expected to become before the High Court in February/March 2021.
