25 Mar 2025

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has engaged 15 temporary office cleaners (A3 salary scale) from 2017 at Mamuno, Ramatlabama and Martins Drift border gates.

Answering a Parliamentary question on Monday, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General Pius Mokgware stated that the above employees were engaged for a period not exceeding 12 months in line with Public Service Act No. 30 of 2008 Section 13 (2) and therefore their rights were not violated.

He said that of the 15 cleaners, one was offered permanent employment at the end of her contract.Minister Mokgware explained that where temporary employees were engaged within the ministry, they benefitted from the same conditions enjoyed by permanent employees, that is, they were given 84 calendar days as maternity leave.

He also explained that the ministry did not have any plans to absorb the office cleaners as it intended to outsource cleaning services in line with DPSM Outsourcing Guidelines.

Minister Mokgware emphasised that the ministry did not have the said temporary employees at C3 fifth notch at various border gates.

He said the ministry continued to apply government policy of hiring temporary employees in line with Public Service Act of 2008 and other employment regulations.

Nkange MP, Mr Motlhaleemang Moalosi had asked the minister if he was aware that there were temporary employees at various border gates since 2017 and if so whether this was not a violation of workers’ rights and the law.

He also wanted to know whether the minister was aware that the said temporary employees were given only two weeks maternity leave and were expected to work two weeks after delivery.In addition, he wanted to know the ministry’s plan to absorb these employees permanently. 

MP Moalosi further wanted to know whether the minister was aware that for the past eight years, the said employees had been on C3 fifth notch and to apprise the house if temporary employees were not supposed to progress and whether the government policy of hiring temporary employees across the civil service would continue in this current administration. ENDS