The Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) has called on the government to immediately pay outstanding soft landing packages to former BCL Mine employees, arguing that the newly appointed commission of inquiry should not be used as an excuse to delay compensation. Speaking at a press conference in Tlokweng, the union welcomed President Duma Boko’s decision to investigate the mine’s liquidation but stressed that affected workers should not have to wait any longer for their rightful payments.
According to BMWU, the commission of inquiry is primarily focused on reviewing the circumstances that led to BCL’s closure, rather than addressing the financial plight of former employees. The union insists that these two issues can be handled simultaneously and is pushing for clear timelines on when workers can expect their outstanding funds.
The union further criticized the government’s decision to exclude worker representatives from the commission, arguing that their lived experiences and operational knowledge of BCL would make the inquiry more effective. BMWU is now calling for urgent discussions with the Ministry of Minerals and Energy to clarify how the commission’s work will align with the existing BCL in Liquidation Task Committee, which was formed in February 2025 to address worker-related concerns.
With many former BCL employees struggling to rebuild their lives nearly a decade after the mine’s closure, BMWU insists that justice delayed is justice denied. The union has vowed to continue fighting until all outstanding payments are made, warning that further delays will only deepen frustrations among affected workers.
