16th April 2025
Sello Motseta
The Institute of Labour and Employment Studies (ILES) and the Botswana Public Service College toda7y concluded the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to improve Public Service capacity and productivity but will also immensely cut litigation costs for government.
As part of the partnership ILES will also, among others, promote labour education and training partnerships with international, regional and sub-regional labour organizations, leveraging on their recognition as the national labour centre for the benefit of stakeholders.
“We need a combined effort with relevant stakeholders with the requisite expertise, appetite and experience to assist in designing and delivering programmes that will enable the Public Service to efficiently and effectively deliver services to the populace,” said Kagiso K. Kemoeng, Executive Director of the Botswana Public Service College.
He said, “In one of its endeavours to fulfil this mandate, the BPSC took a position to collaborate with different stakeholders that stand good to catalyse this process. One of these stakeholders was the Institute of Labour and Employment Studies (ILES), with whom we took a deliberate and very conscious decision to collaborate in the provision of training and development of the Public Service to provide a broad framework for harmonizing BPSC’s mission to build a strong public service that would enhance the promotion of industrial harmony, timely service delivery and sustainable development.”
According to officialsthe short background of the journey with ILES dates back to sometime in September last year, when they were one of the presenters at a Human Resources workshop at the Royal Aria in Tlokweng organised by the Directorate of Public Service Management(DPSM).
The presentation laid bare facts and figures on the poor management of labour issues by the Public Service, easily translating into a challenge to us at the BPSC. It is evident that the Public Service is wanting in managing and handling discipline and grievance management issues.
These badly managed labour matters, more often than not, increase litigation costs to government, when aggrieved parties escalate their grievances to the courts of law, where government is often taken to the task suffering damages of a pecuniary nature by the litigants.
The gaps highlighted by ILES at the Conference indicated that there is big gap in the Public Service waiting to be filled by niche sector experts like ILES. ILES already works with the International Labour Organization(ILO) on issues around the decent work programme.
“I am therefore delighted that today we are here to mark the commencement of a journey, not only to save government funds, but most importantly to ensure that staff grievances in the Public Service are handled fairly, free of bias and free of irregularities that continue to rock disciplinary proceedings and such related grievance management activities in the Public Service. There could not have been a better partner than ILES, a BQA accredited institution, with their mission to empower the working population of Botswana with relevant education, training and research on labour and employment studies,” said Kemoeng.
Botswana Public Service College will offer training to ILES staff on areas agreed by the two parties and also avail themselves for national campaigns and projects that add value to the pursuits of the Public Service in its quest to enhance the performance and the productivity of Public Servants.
Together the parties will develop courses and organize on management and labour issues, engage in studies that examine intersection of public policy and labour rights and partner to serve underreached communities to improve productivity at work and foster appropriate work ethics.
Shandukani Thubu Hlabano, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) for Institute for Labour and Employment Studies(ILES) said “Today marks a significant milestone in the ongoing journey of education and training. As we gather here to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Public service College and the Institute for Labour and Employment Studies(ILES), we stand united in our commitment to enhance the quality of education and training by developing and nurturing a workforce that is both skilled and empowered.”
He said, “Our combined expertise will provide a holistic learning experience that not only prepares workers for successful careers but also arms them with the insights needed to understand the critical dynamics of the world of work.”
