Botswana advances decent work with landmark labour reform

Botswana, Gaborone (ILO News) – Botswana has reached a significant milestone in advancing decent work and social justice with the promulgation of the Employment and Labour Relations Act, 2025, that came into force on 1 September 2026.

The landmark legislation represents one of the country’s most significant labour law reforms in decades. It consolidates key employment and labour relations legislation into a single, modern framework governing the world of work.

It is more than a legislative change. The new Act is the culmination of years of consultation and collaboration among the Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, with technical assistance from the International Labour Organization.

Botswana’s journey towards comprehensive labour law reform stretches back nearly a decade.

In 2017, the Government of Botswana requested technical assistance from the ILO to review the country’s labour legislation. The process sought to address gaps in existing laws, respond to developments in the labour market, respond to judgements of the Courts and strengthen conformity with International Labour Standards.

A tripartite Labour Law Review Committee, bringing together representatives of Government, workers and employers, was established to drive the process. The ILO provided technical expertise throughout the reform journey, including support to develop an Issues Paper informed by national court decisions, comparative practices, International Labour Standards and observations of the ILO supervisory system.

The commencement of the Act therefore represents an important transition from years of dialogue and legislative reform to implementation and tangible protections in the world of work.

Strengthening rights and labour relations

The new legislation introduces wide-ranging reforms affecting workers, employers and labour market institutions. Among its provisions, the Act strengthens protections against child and forced labour, promotes equality and non-discrimination at work, protects freedom of association, modernizes collective bargaining arrangements and strengthens mechanisms for preventing and resolving labour disputes.

It also addresses areas including maternity and paternity leave, workplace discrimination and harassment, termination of employment and the classification of employment relationships.

Importantly, the new framework strengthens mechanisms for social dialogue, reflecting a fundamental principle of the ILO: sustainable progress in the world of work is best achieved when governments, employers and workers have a meaningful voice in shaping labour policies and institutions.

The coming into force of the Act is a major achievement, but it also marks the beginning of a critical new phase, which is implementation.

The real measure of success will be how effective the legislation translates into improved rights, protections and labour relations in workplaces across Botswana.

This will require continued engagement among Government, Employers and Workers, effective labour administration and dispute-resolution institutions, awareness among workers and enterprises of their rights and responsibilities, and sustained capacity-building for those responsible for implementing the legislation.

The ILO remains committed to supporting its constituents in Botswana as they translate the principles embodied in the new framework into practical improvements in the world of work.

Botswana’s Employment and Labour Relations Act demonstrates what sustained national commitment, tripartite social dialogue and engagement with International Labour Standards can achieve.

Nearly a decade after the labour law reform journey began, the focus now turns to ensuring that the promise of the new Act becomes a lived reality – advancing decent work, social justice and productive employment for all.