Gaborone — Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri apologised to Parliament on Friday after it was discovered that he had lied to the House last month regarding citizens holding management positions at Bank of Baroda.

At the time he told the House that the bank had not submitted a Training and Localisation Plan to the Department of Labour and Social Security (DLSS) and that two out of seven Batswana were holding management positions. He further indicated that the issue of differences between the benefits for citizens and non-citizens was under discussion between the bank management and Botswana Bank Employees Union (BOBEU).

In a statement on Friday, Matlhabaphiri said after further investigations his office found that the two citizens were not managers but supervisors. He said that they also found out that the issue of benefits was referred to BOBEU after several failed attempts to settle it internally.

"The union has confirmed through the secretary general that they are pursuing management with a view to negotiate terms and conditions of employment. Pursuant to this effort, the union submitted a draft labour agreement to management of Bank of Baroda in June, 2007 and they are now awaiting a response," he said.

He told the House that he discussed the delay in finalising the Collective Labour Agreement with the managing director of the bank and has promised to conclude the agreement with the union for submission to the Department of Labour and Social Security as soon as possible.

"With regard to the submission of the Training and Localisation Programme to the Department of DLSS, the MD has undertaken to shortly arrange the discussion of a draft with the union," he said.

However, Gaborone South Member of Parliament (MP) Akanyang Magama put it to him (GUS) that the bank employees have been negotiating for benefits with the management since 2001 but with no progress. Kgatleng East MP Isaac Mabiletsa lectured to Matlhabaphiri that he should have "clarified the authenticity of the information with the management before lying to Parliament". Matlhabaphiri conceded.