Work conditions in Botswana

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

45 hours (a nine-hour five-day week) or alternatively an eight hour six day. Persons employed solely to watch over any property of the industry can work 10 hours a day or up to 60 hours a week. A rest day, of at least 24 consecutive hours, (typically Sunday), is given in every period of seven consecutive days.

Retirement Age

Early retirement starts at 45 years whereas normal retirement is age 60.

Working Contracts

Pursuant to the Part III of the Employment Act of 1982, contracts of employment may be oral, written, expressed or implied. Contracts of employment for unspecified periods of time may be terminated in as short as one day (where the wages are payable in respect of any period exceeding a day but less than a week) or as long as 6 weeks (where an employee whose wages are payable in respect of any period exceeding a day has been in continuous employment for 10 or more years).

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

BWP 780 per month (source: ILO, 2013, latest available data) (minimum hourly wages vary between BWP 3.21 and BWP 5.79 in 2018, according to the Botswana government).

Average Wage

Gross average monthly wage of men: BWP 5,370 (source: ILO, 2010);
Gross average monthly wage of women: BWP 4,475 (source: ILO, 2010).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 0%
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: There are no social security taxes or contributions in Botswana.

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Botswana has a longstanding tradition of trade unions, the first one (Francistown African Employees' Union) formed in 1948. The country has ratified the International Labour Organisation's core conventions, including Conventions 87 (Freedom of Association) and 98 (Right to Organise). All workers have the right to join trade unions (with the exception of the staff of Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service, Local Police, and Prison Service).
Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU), founded in 1977, is the umbrella organisation regrouping trade unions in the country. BFTU is an affiliate of Southern Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC) and International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC).

Labour Unions

Botswana Federation of Trade Unions

Unionisation Rate

Trade union membership is relatively low in Botswana. It is estimated at 60,000-70,000 of the total employed workforce of 306,000 are unionised (Commonwealth Network estimates).

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs