Government has begun denying work permits for tourism companies that mistreat employees, which he says is usually perpetrated by foreigners in senior management, labour and home affairs minister Pius Mokgware has revealed.
Mokgware announced the strict new penalties on Thursday during a North West District Council meeting in Maun. The crackdown aligns with Botswana’s new Employment and Labour Relations Act of 2025, which officially took effect on September 1, 2026.
The minister revealed that recent government investigations confirmed reports of severe employee abuse within the tourism sector. Investigators found that some companies were using vulgar language against staff, failing to provide insurance, and illegally blocking workers from joining trade unions.
“We have taken a decision that we will not grant work permits to companies that mistreat their employees,” Mokgware warned.
Many tourism employees are reportedly afraid to report bad conditions because they fear losing their jobs. To solve this, Minister Mokgware announced that officials will now conduct direct workplace inspections to catch rule-breakers. He revealed that under the new law, the inspections will be conducted in companies to ensure that those issues are being addressed.
Mokgware has encouraged the North West District Councillors to also play a role in ensuring that the working conditions of the employees in the tourism industry are being addressed. He said that his ministry has established the Minimum Wage Board, urging the councillors to present their findings on issues related to remuneration of workers in the tourism industry to the board, which is expected to visit Maun soon.
Mokgware urged district councillors to gather evidence and present their findings to the board, noting that councillors best understand the unique hardships tourism workers face. When raising her concerns on the working conditions of workers in the tourism industry, Councillor for Khwai-Mababe Tshabang Paul called for the new Employment and Labour Relations Act to protect the workers from exploitation and mistreatment. She stated some safari operators exploit workers by making them work without any legal contracts.
Councillor for Boro-Senonnori Busang Letshabo called for immediate improvements to housing and the introduction of risk allowances for employees working deep in the bush.
Meanwhile, the primary objective of the new Employment and Labour Relations Act of 2025 is to eliminate child labour and forced labour, excessive hours of work and other poor conditions of work, the exploitation of workers through engagement on short-term contracts, and unfair labour practices such as unfair dismissals and any type of unfair treatment.
The Act also intends to introduce negotiated packages during retrenchments, fair bargaining conditions between employers and workers, paternity leave and paid sick leave, and to increase maternity leave.
