BLLAHWU DEFENDS PER DIEM POLICY

Article By: Diana Motsu

The Botswana Land boards Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU) has defended the government’s per diem system, calling it a vital condition of service for civil servants.

The union criticized the hospitality industry’s push to scrap per diems, labeling it a threat to the welfare of nurses, health workers, and Land Board officers. BLLAHWU argued that per diems promote transparency, support local economies, and prevent civil servants from falling into debt due to delayed reimbursements.

The Union accused hotels of hypocrisy, saying the industry underpays staff while seeking to limit public workers’ benefits. The union urged government to uphold workers’ rights and reject any policy changes that would harm frontline public servants.