The Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) and Botswana Doctors Union (BDU) will appear before the Block 3 Industrial Court this afternoon to resolve their dispute over the doctors’ emergency duty call allowance.
The BDU members have been on a go-slow since last week, refusing to work outside their normal working hours.
The DPSM wants the court to declare that the doctors are essential services employees and therefore should not engage in any industrial action.
The dispute stems from an agreement signed last year between the DPSM and the BDU, which stipulated that the doctors would receive an emergency duty call allowance of P500 per hour.
However, the DPSM has not implemented the agreement, citing budget constraints and technical issues.
The BDU claims that the DPSM is reneging on its promise and violating the doctors’ rights.
The court adjourned the matter to today at 2 pm.
The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the health sector and the public at large.