The unclear role of the intelligence agencies in the country has not only been a cause for concern for ordinary Batswana but for the international community as well.

A recent report published by The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) alleges that members of Military Intelligence (MI) have been spying on the presidents of the Botswana Unified Local Government Service Association (BULGSA) and the Botswana Federation of Secondary School Teachers (BOFESETE).

ITUC last week published a report on core labour standards in the countries of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), which comprises Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. "Besides dismissals, other anti-union practices include harassment, spying and threats," says the report.

The report says in order to declare a strike it is necessary that the union goes through a time consuming and complex arbitration procedure which results, in virtually all cases, strikes being declared illegal, therefore, striking workers are at risk of dismissal.

"Such is the case for the 461 Debswana joint diamond mine venture's workers (2004) and 181 workers at BCL Company (2006), who are still waiting for a court decision. In the case of BCL the management undermined the main trade union in that it supported a dissident union which encouraged the workers to hold a strike - later to be declared illegal - in order to give the management the grounds for massive dismissals", the report says.

The report also found that employers take advantage of lack of specific legislative provisions that would protect unions against acts of interference by employers in their establishment, functioning or administration.