Gaborone:  Labour unions in the country have called on the government to be accountable and press for the speedy introduction of the declaration of assets and liabilities legislation.

The leadership of the five major public sector unions said in Gaborone yesterday that given revelations about tendering for work by some top leaders in ministries they head, government should not resist but support the motion calling for a declaration of assets and liabilities law (as proposed by Gaborone Central Member of Parliament (MP) Dumelang Saleshando.

The unions include the Botswana Public Employees Union (BPEU), Botswana Teachers Union (BTU), Botswana Secondary Teachers Union, (BOSETU), Botswana Land Boards and Local Authorities Workers Union (BLBLAWU) and National Amalgamated Local and Central Government Workers Union (NALCGWU), formerly Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU).

BOPEU President Andrew Motsamai said the unjustifiable refusal by government raises suspicions as to the motives for the intransigence. "Government leaders should never profit at the expense of the public. Our members are not prepared to continue paying increased taxes just so that ministers can get paid for tenders awarded to them by the ministries they head," Motsamai said.

Motsamai stressed that the government's decision not to increase salaries for the second year running contradicts its pledge to bargain in good faith with the trade unions that it has recognised.  He said it is most unfortunate that government has decided against making cost of living adjustments without first engaging the labour movement when it is clear that the cost of living will drastically increase as a result of the decision to increase value added tax (VAT).

"This is again evidence of the fact that the interests of the labour movement are never taken into account in making decisions that drastically affect their livelihood," Motsamai said.

He added that the unions represent approximately 90, 000 members, hence they cannot sit back and continue to be excluded from running the country.  He further said the country could not be run in the interests of a few people at the expense of the working class."Agreements entered into with the government are contravened at whim, leaving one to conclude that the real power of a public sector trade unions may not be in their ability to bargain collectively with the employer, but it may be in their interest to form political alliance with candidates for political office who are prepared to represent their interests," Motsamai said.

He added that venturing into partisan politics is the route that they do not want to take, "but we are slowly being pushed there".

"The 2014 general elections are not far away. And if our interests continue to be neglected, that is the route we might take," Motsamai said. He also pointed out that industrial action is also available as a means of drawing government to the plight of their members. He however pointed out that they continue to cling to the hope that things will change so "we will not have to take any of the above routes".