02 Apr 2025

Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) has implemented a robust Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) framework, which ensured high level of protection of staff against occupational hazards such as heat, noise, chemical or physical injury and exposure to environmental conditions.

Answering a question in Parliament recently, the Assistant Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti stated that it included implementation of strict work safety culture, procedures and mandatory provision of protective clothing including helmets, work suits, gloves, boots, work evaporative coolers, earplugs and earmuffs.

He said the presence of an onsite health clinic at BMC, and a good relationship with external medical service providers, ensured rapid health service turnaround for the employees.

Dr Dikoloti said BMC was at advanced stages of accreditation for the requirements of ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 relating to occupational health and safety management as well as environmental management respectively.

He indicated that BMC had not been paying long service awards to employees on account of financial challenges. In terms of conditions of service, he said long service award was not a mandatory provision, but may be granted subject to favourable financial position of the commission.

He stated that allowance was not therefore accrued cumulatively and there were no unpaid accrued paid cash for long service.

MP for Lobatse, Mr Kamal Jacobs had asked the minister to give an update on the situation at BMC, particularly in terms of BMC employee beneficiation schemes for the abattoir risk, health and proper consultation structures to improve the lives of all BMC employees and their welfare in band one and band four.

He also asked about unpaid accrued cash for long service awards as per annexure five of BMC guidelines as promised and communicated to concerned long service employees and potential beneficiaries. ENDS