- says the understudy initiative has turned into a tool for exploitation
The Botswana Guide Association (BOGA) has pinned hopes on the new government and Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi to address the understudy initiative in the tourism industry.
The initiative which was meant to be a bridge for skills transfer has allegedly turned into a tool for exploitation. The initiative was initially designed to facilitate the transfer of specialized skills from foreign workers to locals.
According to the tourism policy, a foreign employee’s work permit is granted on the condition that a Motswana works under them to gain the necessary expertise. Ideally, within the first five years, the foreign worker should have imparted their skills to the understudy and then vacated their position for the local trainee.
The initiative is a bid to empower Batswana and reduce foreign dominance in senior positions within safari companies operating in the Okavango Delta. This policy allows foreigners to hold contractual managerial positions while training a local employee to eventually take over.
However, it has been suggested that some safari companies are manipulating the initiative by placing understudies in low-level positions, significantly prolonging their training period. For instance, instead of hiring a local candidate with relevant experience as an understudy manager, companies recruit individuals from junior roles.
It is also reported that the understudy participants never graduate in some if not all safari companies as they remain under the foreign manager for the longest period as the companies continue to renew work permits and residence permits at the expense of the understudy.
This was revealed in an interview by BOGA chairperson Kenson Kgaga who indicated that they are hopeful the minister of tourism will address the situation. He added that the minister is in good position to address the issue as he was part of the tourism portfolio committee.
“The minister is well informed about the understudy issues and I have also had a chat with him to keep him onboard of the current situation so I believe him on dealing with this as it will not be something new,” Kgaga said.
Kgaga is of the view that there is no need to issue foreigners permits to work in senior position within the tourism industry as more Batswana have gained enough experience to occupy the positions.
He cited that currently there are a number of Batswana owned safari camps within the Okavango Delta with ratings from five stars to two stars which are competing with companies led by foreign workers.
In an interview an understudy trainee who opted to remain anonymous claims that many Batswana are being exploited by safari companies, which use them merely as a means to secure work permits for foreign employees.
“The problem is that there are no regulatory mechanisms in place to ensure that the process is fair,” he stated. “The same companies that employ understudies are also responsible for assessing them, which creates a conflict of interest. Some companies deliberately extend training periods, keeping Batswana in understudy positions indefinitely some even retire without ever being promoted.”
The source further criticised the initiative for remaining only a policy rather than a legally binding requirement for safari companies. He called for the new establishment of a regulatory board to oversee the initiative, ensuring that Batswana are not subjected to unfair labor practices under the guise of skills transfer.
