How Botswana’s Labour Laws are Hurting Youth Employment Opportunities

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Explore how Botswana’s labour laws may be limiting youth employment opportunities. Featuring expert insights, policy analysis, and reform recommendations.

A Generation Left Behind

Botswana’s youth are more educated than ever before but also more unemployed. With youth unemployment rising to 34.4% in 2023, compared to a national average of 25.9% 

, many are asking: Are Botswana’s labour laws helping or hurting youth employment opportunities?

Understanding Botswana’s Labour Laws

A Framework Built for Stability, Not Flexibility

Botswana’s labour laws are designed to protect workers’ rights and promote fair employment. However, critics argue that these laws are rigid, outdated, and ill-suited to the modern economy.

“The current labour framework was built for a different era,” says Neo Dimbungu, a development economist at the University of Botswana. “It prioritizes job security over job creation, which is problematic in a country with high youth unemployment.”

How Labour Laws Limit Youth Employment

1. High Barriers to Entry for Employers

Strict hiring and firing regulations discourage businesses from taking risks on inexperienced youth. Employers often prefer older, more experienced workers to avoid the legal and financial risks of termination.

“Labour protections are important, but they must be balanced with flexibility,” says Boitumelo Molefhe of Econsult Botswana. “Otherwise, employers are reluctant to hire young people who may need time to develop.”

2. Limited Support for Internships and Apprenticeships

Botswana’s labour code lacks strong incentives for businesses to offer internships, apprenticeships, or learnerships key pathways for youth to gain experience.

“We need a legal framework that encourages on-the-job training,” says Naledi Madala, economist at Absa Bank Botswana. “Without it, young people remain locked out of the labour market.”

3. Informal Sector Exclusion

Many young Batswana turn to the informal sector, but labour laws offer little protection or support for informal workers. This leaves them vulnerable and limits their ability to scale or formalize their businesses.

The Bigger Picture: Education vs. Employability

Despite rising education levels, many young Batswana lack the skills employers need.

“There’s a mismatch between what schools teach and what the market demands,” says Dr. Keith Jefferis, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Botswana. “Labour laws alone won’t fix youth unemployment—we need education reform too.”

Global Comparisons: What Can Botswana Learn?

Countries like Rwanda and Mauritius have introduced youth employment acts that combine labour flexibility with targeted support for young workers. Botswana could adopt similar models by:

  • Creating youth wage subsidies
  • Mandating youth quotas in public procurement
  • Offering tax breaks for companies that hire and train youth

Policy Recommendations: Making Labour Laws Work for Youth

To make Botswana’s labour laws more youth-friendly, policymakers should:

  1. Revise hiring and firing rules to reduce risk for employers.
  2. Incentivize internships and apprenticeships through subsidies or tax relief.
  3. Formalize the informal sector with simplified registration and legal protections.
  4. Align education with market needs through vocational training and digital skills programs.
  5. Establish a Youth Employment Act that integrates labour, education, and entrepreneurship policies.

Internal & External Resources

For more on employment policy, read our post on Botswana’s Budget and the People.

Reform or Risk a Lost Generation

Botswana’s labour laws were built to protect—but in their current form, they may be excluding the very people they should empower. Reforming these laws is not just an economic necessity—it’s a generational imperative.



What’s your experience with Botswana’s labour market?
Are you a young job seeker, employer, or policymaker? Share your thoughts in the comments below and subscribe to our newsletter for more insights on African labour markets and economic reform.

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