1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Employment and Labour Relations Bill No. 10 of 2025, published in the Government Gazette on 6 June 2025, represents a transformative step in modernising Botswana’s labour law framework. Although not yet enacted, the Bill introduces significant reforms aimed at enhancing fairness, transparency, and accountability in employment relations.
1.2 Among its key objectives, the Bill establishes formal labour institutions to oversee compliance, enshrines fundamental worker rights, and provides a framework for orderly labour relations and collective bargaining. It also introduces clear mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of workplace disputes, ensuring efficiency and fairness.
1.3 Notably, the Bill strengthens protections for employees by regulating probationary periods, limiting fixed-term contracts, expanding the definition of unfair dismissal. These reforms collectively shift the employment landscape towards a more structured and equitable system, aligning Botswana’s labour law with modern international standards while balancing the interests of employers and employees.