Labour Inspection

Botswana ratifies two key conventions on labour inspection

Botswana is the 149th country to ratify Convention No. 81 and the 56th to ratify Convention No. 129 promoting an effective system of labour inspection in commerce and industry, as well as agriculture.

News | 10 January 2023
On 22 December 2022, the Government of Botswana deposited the instruments of ratification of the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129).

In depositing the instruments of ratification, H.E. Ms Molokomme, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Botswana in Geneva, stated: “Botswana is aware of the obligations that come with this ratification. As a country which abides by the principles and practice of good governance and the rule of law, we commit to comply with our obligations in line with the Constitution of the ILO.”

When receiving the instrument of ratification, Mr Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, declared: “I am very pleased that Botswana is joining the 148 other member States that have ratified Convention No. 81 and the 55 other member states that have ratified Convention No. 129. These Conventions call for an effective system of labour inspection in commerce and industry, as well as agriculture. They deal with the functions of the labour inspection system, which include the enforcement of legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers; and the provision of information and advice to employers and workers on how they can best comply with the laws.

Convention No. 81 is one of the ILO Conventions prioritized by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for ratification and implementation. With Botswana’s ratification, all 16 member countries in SADC will now have ratified Convention No.81. These ratifications by Botswana mark the country’s continued commitment to the enforcement of the legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers.”

Conventions No. 81 and No. 129 are the key ILO instruments on labour inspection and, as such, form part of the instruments designated by the ILO as most significant from the viewpoint of governance. With these two new ratifications, Botswana has ratified 17 instruments, including 8 fundamental Conventions and 3 governance Conventions.