• Banks in P90.79 billion household debtSeptember 13, 2025
    -           P39 billion of the credit is unsecure -           UK research firm forecasts escalating credit in the household sector RelatedPosts Banks in P90.79 billion household debt π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in Basarwa demand equal rights STAFF WRITER The household… Read more: Banks in P90.79 billion household debt
  • π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll inSeptember 13, 2025
    This morning (12.09.25), the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) hosted the Hemp Innovations Europe (HIE) AB Memorandum of Understanding Handshake Ceremony. The MOU signing is in partnership with The Office of the President, Botswana University of Agriculture and… Read more: π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in
  • Basarwa demand equal rightsSeptember 13, 2025
    KITSO RAMONO editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts Banks in P90.79 billion household debt π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in Basarwa demand equal rights   The Basarwa community has called on government to grant them full recognition under Botswana’s laws, insisting that they deserve… Read more: Basarwa demand equal rights
  • Bank of Botswana Celebrate 50 YearsSeptember 13, 2025
    Unveils new P50 banknote in commemoration   GORATAONE KGOSIMORE RelatedPosts Banks in P90.79 billion household debt π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in Basarwa demand equal rights editors@thepatriot.co.bw   Botswana’s central bank, the Bank of Botswana celebrated 50 years of existence,… Read more: Bank of Botswana Celebrate 50 Years
  • UDC in BDP deep stateSeptember 13, 2025
    Boko's wounded healer strategy recycles BDP cronies into govt Pilane's CoA appointment re-opens old wounds BDP denies ever politicizing public service   BAKANG TIRO RelatedPosts Banks in P90.79 billion household debt π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in Basarwa demand equal… Read more: UDC in BDP deep state
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
  • Login
  • Register
Friday, September 19, 2025
The Patriot On Sunday
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
Cart / $0.00

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result

Diamond workers unhappy with Balopi

patriot by patriot
November 19, 2020
in News
0

Botswana Diamond Workers Union (BDWU) has decried continuous unfair retrenchments, exploitation and human rights violations subjected to their members by diamond cutting and polishing companies operating in the country.Β Β 

The union has since threatened to report the matter to Industrial All, a global union which BDWU affiliates to should both government and the said companies continue failing to address their concerns. The Union’s Deputy Chairperson, Obusitse Mapoka complains that government have been giving international bodies a wrong impression everything is well within the diamond industry as far as employees are concerned. β€œLast year I was attending an Industry All conference in Tanzania, and the report that was given regarding Botswana is totally different from what is happening on the ground,” Mapoka told The Patriot on Sunday.

RelatedPosts

Basarwa demand equal rights

UDC in BDP deep state

2025 China Victory Day Message: Choose peace

β€œWe did not want to object the report and tarnish the country’s image by that time. We thought it was in the best interest of the country if we first engage government with the hope that our concerns can be resolved internally before engaging the global union,” Mapoka said.

Mapoka said they thereafter met with The Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mpho Balopi as well as the Commissioner of Labour, Goitseone Kokorwe whom they say promised to investigate their grievances. Balopi however denies ever engaging with BDWU in detail. According to the Minister, they agreed with the union that they (government) can only engage with them through their federation, Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU).

β€œWhen we met I told them that they should have come with BFTU because we normally talk through federations, and they said BFTU was supposed to come. So they can not expect me to answer issues to a union which is under a federation without engaging us as we have agreed,” Balopi said briefly, indicating that he was still engaged in a meeting.

However, Mapoka expressed disappointed and shock about Balopi’s response. β€œBalopi did not say that to us. They said they would investigate and call us. So we have been thinking that the lockdown is the reason why they have not yet called us but now they are changing their stories,” said Mapoka, disappointed. He made it clear that the federation does not speak on their behalf adding that as a structure they do not need to go to a federation to engage government over their concerns.

Union’s grievance

According to Mapoka, a total of 277 employees have already been retrenched unfairly between 2019 up to June this year by the diamond cutting and polishing companies. The Deputy Chairperson noted that they have already registered some of these cases before the Industrial Court as the companies refused to avail reasons that led to the retrenchments. Mapoka also complained that some employees have been retrenched unfairly either for associating themselves with the union or due to disciplinary actions that were also unfair. The trend is said to be influenced by the formation of an Association of these factories which reportedly strongly disapproves and does not recognise workers’ union. β€œMajority of people who have been retrenched are union members,” Mapoka claimed.

The union has also called upon government to look into the wage rate of the diamond cutting and polishing sector complaining about low salaries. Most of the local employees are reportedly paid P1300 as basic salaries with the highest amount being P2000. β€œDespite the industry making huge profits every month their employees on the other hand are getting a little out of these profits. The rates are very low and our believe is that our members should not be paid with the rates used in the manufacturing sector,” Mapoka complained. 

The union is also complaining about the job security of their members lamenting that locals are usually employed on short time contracts renewed mostly after every year. The union’s concern is that the setup makes it hard for the locals to improve their lives, secure loans from banks as they are regarded as risky clients.

Another concern is the issue of localising positions with the union arguing that certain positions within the industry should be reserved to deserving Batswana instead of giving majority of those to expatriates. Mapoka highlighted that in certain companies there are lot of Indians doing the same jobs that can be done by Batswana. β€œOne of the companies has a number of expatriates surpassing that of Batswana and these foreigners are there to work not to train the locals as the companies usually claims.” 

Tags: BDWUdiamond
Previous Post

PS overhauls Landboards!

Next Post

SENEO HELPS SOS CHILDREN`S VILLAGE

Related Posts

Basarwa demand equal rights
News

Basarwa demand equal rights

September 13, 2025
UDC in BDP deep state
News

UDC in BDP deep state

September 13, 2025
2025 China Victory Day Message: Choose peace
News

2025 China Victory Day Message: Choose peace

September 12, 2025
Debswana completes refurbishment of Camphill Trust project
News

Debswana completes refurbishment of Camphill Trust project

September 11, 2025
KHAMA IV INITIATIVES SPARK TRIBAL TENSIONS
News

KHAMA IV INITIATIVES SPARK TRIBAL TENSIONS

September 11, 2025
The Mogaes fight over boswa
News

The Mogaes fight over boswa

September 8, 2025
Next Post
SENEO HELPS SOS CHILDREN`S VILLAGE

SENEO HELPS SOS CHILDREN`S VILLAGE

Please login to join discussion
  • Banks in P90.79 billion household debtSeptember 13, 2025
    -           P39 billion of the credit is unsecure -           UK research firm forecasts escalating credit in the household sector RelatedPosts Banks in P90.79 billion household debt π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in Basarwa demand equal rights STAFF WRITER The household… Read more: Banks in P90.79 billion household debt
  • π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll inSeptember 13, 2025
    This morning (12.09.25), the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) hosted the Hemp Innovations Europe (HIE) AB Memorandum of Understanding Handshake Ceremony. The MOU signing is in partnership with The Office of the President, Botswana University of Agriculture and… Read more: π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in
  • Basarwa demand equal rightsSeptember 13, 2025
    KITSO RAMONO editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts Banks in P90.79 billion household debt π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in Basarwa demand equal rights   The Basarwa community has called on government to grant them full recognition under Botswana’s laws, insisting that they deserve… Read more: Basarwa demand equal rights
  • Bank of Botswana Celebrate 50 YearsSeptember 13, 2025
    Unveils new P50 banknote in commemoration   GORATAONE KGOSIMORE RelatedPosts Banks in P90.79 billion household debt π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in Basarwa demand equal rights editors@thepatriot.co.bw   Botswana’s central bank, the Bank of Botswana celebrated 50 years of existence,… Read more: Bank of Botswana Celebrate 50 Years
  • UDC in BDP deep stateSeptember 13, 2025
    Boko's wounded healer strategy recycles BDP cronies into govt Pilane's CoA appointment re-opens old wounds BDP denies ever politicizing public service   BAKANG TIRO RelatedPosts Banks in P90.79 billion household debt π‡πžπ¦π© 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 d𝐞𝐚π₯s roll in Basarwa demand equal… Read more: UDC in BDP deep state
The Patriot On Sunday

Β© 2024 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

Β© 2024 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?