====== Botswana ====== **Region:** Southern Africa **Regional Economic Communities (REC):** SADC → [[https://iiag.online/locations/bw.html|View IIAG Country Statistics]] ---- ^ Indicator ^ Data ^ | **Governance (IIAG)** | Overall Governance score: 65.8 / 100 · Rank: 5th / 54 · [[https://iiag.online/locations/bw.html|View IIAG Country Statistics]] | ---- ===== PART 1 – HIGH-LEVEL COUNTRY MAPPING ===== ==== Institutions and Stakeholder Database ==== (To be linked) ---- ==== REC Membership ==== * SADC ---- ==== Population size and size of the informal economy ==== The size of Botswana’s informal economy is estimated at approximately **26.5% of GDP**, representing around **$18 billion (PPP)** and employing approximately **191,000 people**. ---- ==== Nature of the legal system and ILO status ==== Botswana operates a **dual legal system** combining common law and customary law. Botswana has ratified **17 ILO Conventions**, including: * **8 Fundamental Conventions** * Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) * Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) * **3 Governance (Priority) Conventions** * Tripartite Consultation Convention, 1976 (No. 144) * **6 Technical Conventions** Botswana has been a member of the **International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1978** and participates in Decent Work Country Programme initiatives. ---- ==== Workers’ rights in human rights system, national labour law / social protection and scope of protection ==== Workers’ rights are primarily governed by: * **Employment Act (Cap 47:01)** * Constitutional protections The framework provides for: * Regulation of working conditions * Minimum standards of employment * Protection of workers’ rights Social protection systems exist but remain **limited in coverage**, particularly for informal workers. ---- ==== Existing laws, policy and regulatory initiatives for the protection of workers in the informal economy ==== Botswana adopts a **policy-driven approach** to regulating and formalising the informal economy. **Key policies and strategies include:** **Vision 2036** * Promotes a vibrant micro and small enterprise sector * Encourages formalisation of informal businesses * Aims to create sustainable livelihoods and decent work --- **Domesticated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)** * Goal 8.3: * Promotes entrepreneurship * Supports MSME growth * Encourages formalisation and access to finance --- **COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund (2020)** * Provided wage subsidies to affected businesses * Supported informal workers through income relief * Included food assistance programmes --- **National Informal Sector Recovery Plan (2020)** * Focuses on post-COVID recovery of informal sector * Key proposals: * Establishment of an Informal Sector Agency * Expansion of social insurance to informal workers --- **Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan (2020)** * Supports economic recovery and structural transformation * Promotes long-term sustainable growth --- **National Development Plan 11** * Focuses on inclusive growth * Aims at employment creation and poverty reduction --- **National Social Protection Framework (2018)** * Expands coverage to informal workers * Includes: * Pension system extension * Integration with labour market programmes ---- ===== PART 2 – SECTOR SPECIFIC REGULATION ===== ---- ==== Domestic Work Sector ==== **Employment (Domestic Employees) Regulations, 1984 (SI No. 156)** * Limits working hours to **240 hours over a 4-week period** * Provides for rest periods and public holidays * Linked to protections under the Employment Act ---- ==== Street Vendor ==== **Hawking and Street-Vending (Model) Bye-Laws, 2001** **Central District Council Bye-Laws (2008)** **Francistown Hawking and Street Vending Bye-Laws, 1972** * Require licensing and registration * Provide legal recognition of informal traders * Establish: * Application and renewal procedures * Operational rules and restrictions These bye-laws formalise and regulate street trading while maintaining municipal oversight. ---- ==== Waste Reclaiming ==== Regulated through general legislation: * **Employment Act (Cap 47:01)** * **Environmental Management Act (Cap 65:04)** * **Public Health Act (Cap 65:01)** No dedicated legal framework exists for waste reclaimers. ---- ==== Home working ==== Home working is not governed by a specific statutory framework. Relevant policy reference: * **National Informal Sector Recovery Plan (2020)** Home-based work remains largely informal and unregulated. ---- ==== Gig Work and the Platform Economy ==== No dedicated legal framework exists. Relevant policy: * **National Informal Sector Recovery Plan (2020)** Gig work is emerging in: * Ride-hailing services * Freelance and digital work ---- ==== Farm Work ==== **Employment Act (Cap 47:01)** * Provides general labour protections * Applies to agricultural employment relationships ---- ==== The Mining Sector and Artisanal Mining ==== Mining activities are governed by national mining legislation. Artisanal and small-scale mining exists but is regulated within broader mining frameworks. ---- ==== Taxi and Transport Sector (Gig-work/platform economy overlap) ==== Regulated through general transport and licensing systems. Relevant policy: * **National Informal Sector Recovery Plan (2020)** Includes both formal and informal transport operators. ---- ==== Cross-Border Informal Trade ==== Cross-border informal trade operates within a combination of national legislation and regional trade frameworks. **Key regulatory instruments include:** * **Employment Act (Cap 47:01)** * Provides general labour protections applicable to informal workers * **Trade and Consumer Protection Act (Cap 46:09)** * Regulates commercial conduct and consumer protection * Applies to informal and small-scale traders * **Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Protocol** * Facilitates regional trade integration * Supports movement of goods across member states * **National Employment Policy (NEP)** * Recognises the informal economy as a source of employment * Promotes inclusive economic participation These frameworks collectively provide a **partial regulatory structure**, while a significant portion of cross-border trade continues to operate informally. ---- ===== Sources / Links ===== * IIAG – Botswana: https://iiag.online/locations/bw.html * Employment Act (Cap 47:01) * Trade and Consumer Protection Act (Cap 46:09) * SADC Trade Protocol * National Employment Policy * National Informal Sector Recovery Plan (2020) * National Social Protection Framework (2018) * Vision 2036 * ILO Conventions