NATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME - Botswana

1 NATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME . MISSION STATEMENT. The PROGRAMME under the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs is meant to be the window for transferring skills to up and coming young executives. The NATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME would provide a seamless integration of graduates into the economy. What services does the Division offer? The PROGRAMME 's main framework is such that graduate students from various academic fields may be assigned to government and private sector offices where their educational experience could be enhanced through practical work experience. Part of the governance structure will include a Council made up of government and private sector members to advice government. We trust that the program will help speed up localisation process in the country. OBJECTIVE. All individuals who will graduate this year are informed that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs will start registration on the 1st November 2008.

2 1. SELECTION. i. All degree holders from tertiary institutions in and outside Botswana . 2. ELIGIBILITY. i) Persons eligible for this scheme shall be: a) Citizens of Botswana b) Shall have graduated on or after 2008. ii) Graduates willing to participate in the scheme shall enter into a written agreement with the Government of Botswana for a period of twelve months, with an option of a shorter period in the event that the intern receives an offer of permanent employment before expiry of the 12 month period. The agreement shall be binding to all parties involved. 3. PLACEMENT. i) Relevant Ministries and Organizations shall be responsible for posting of Interns to specific departments or units, in consultation with the INTERNSHIP Unit. ii) Postings shall be done in accordance with the academic qualifications of the Interns. iii) Preference shall be given to places where the Interns have accommodation.

3 Iv) Placement preference to peri-urban areas shall be given to Interns with business skills, for interaction with business communities and industries. 4. TRANFERS. i) Where necessary, Interns shall be transferred to meet the exigencies of the service; on medical grounds; to join spouse upon marriage; or on swapping basis, provided it meets the approval of the Coordinator/Director and or host organization. POST SERVICE BENEFITS. i) INTERNSHIP period shall form part of the probation period upon permanent employment in public service. ii) INTERNSHIP period shall form a significant part of probation upon permanent employment in the private sector. PAID EMPLOYMENT. i) Interns shall cease to participate under the INTERNSHIP program if they are engaged in paid employment elsewhere. ii) Participants shall not be permitted to conduct any trade or business during working hours. TRAINING. i) Every endeavour shall be made to ensure that the INTERNSHIP program offers a useful and hands-on learning experience for the participants and to that end, where feasible, on the job training initiatives such as through seminars and workshops would be encouraged.

4 MEDICAL COVER. Interns shall undergo a pre-service medical examination (To assist in posting Interns and in compensation matters). PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. i) Host organizations shall provide their Interns with relevant protective clothing COMPENSATION. i) Interns shall be covered under the Workers' Compensation Act for injury or death caused by an accident in the course of duty. This shall be clearly stated in the contract of INTERNSHIP . CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE. i) Upon satisfactory completion of service, Interns shall be awarded certificates of service. ii) Certificates of service awarded to Interns shall not be graded. INTERNS LIABILITY AND LOSS OF STORES. i) At the end of the program, or upon termination of service, records of participants shall be checked for any debts or loss of returnable supplies of host organizations. ii) Such cases shall be promptly reported to the unit with recommendations to withhold participants' savings so that deductions may be made where necessary.

5 Iii) If the loss is for a substantial amount, host organizations shall notify the unit for appropriate action to be taken against the intern. PROGRAMME COORDINATION. i) A special unit shall be set up to coordinate the activities of the program. ii) The unit shall be headed by the director. INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME GUIDELINES. 1. SELECTION. i) All degree holders from tertiary institutions in and outside Botswana . 2. ELIGIBILITY. i) Persons eligible for this scheme shall be: a) Citizens of Botswana ii) Graduates willing to participate in the scheme shall enter into a written agreement with the Government of Botswana for a period of twelve months, with an option of a shorter period in the event that the intern receives an offer of permanent employment before expiry of the 12. months period. The agreement shall be binding to all parties involved. 3. PLACEMENT. i) Relevant Ministries and Organizations shall be responsible for posting of Interns to specific departments or units, in consultation with the INTERNSHIP Unit.

6 Ii) Postings shall be done in accordance with the academic qualifications of the Interns. iii) Preference shall be given to places where the Interns have accommodation. iv) Placement preference to peri-urban areas shall be given to Interns with business skills, for interaction with business communities and industries. 4. TRANSFERS. i) Where necessary, Interns shall be transferred to meet the exigencies of the service; on medical grounds; to join spouse upon marriage; or on swapping basis, provided it meets the approval of the Coordinator/Director and or host organization. 5. PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES. i) Provision of interns for 12 months, on which they could build their succession plans. ii) Participating organizations are encouraged to pay a full allowance. iii) Participating organizations shall be allowed to use the INTERNSHIP Department logo for their promotional activities, etc.

7 (iv) Participating organizations shall be awarded certificate of appreciation for their contributions to the success of the PROGRAMME . 6. POST SERVICE BENEFITS. i) INTERNSHIP period shall form part of the probation period upon permanent employment in public service. ii) INTERNSHIP period shall form a significant part of probation period upon permanent employment in the private sector. 7. LIVING ALLOWANCES. i) Level of allowance payable under the scheme shall be determined by government from time to time. ii) The initial allowance shall be , payable per month in arrears. 8. OTHER ALLOWANCES. i) Where Interns work beyond their normal working hours, appropriate compensation shall apply. ii) Where Interns work outside their duty stations, applicable meal and subsistence allowances shall apply. iii) Where Interns are placed in departments and organizations where there are special allowances like RASA, commuted overtime allowance and risk allowance, appropriate remuneration package shall apply.

8 9. PAID EMPLOYMENT. i) Interns shall cease to participate under the INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME if they are engaged in paid employment elsewhere. ii) Participants shall not be permitted to conduct any trade or business during working hours. 10. TRAINING. i) Every endeavour shall be made to ensure that the INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME offers a useful and hands-on learning experience for the participants and to that end, where feasible, on the job training initiatives such as through seminars and workshops would be encouraged. 11. MEDICAL COVER. i) Interns shall undergo a pre-service medical examination (To assist in posting Interns and in compensation matters). 12. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. i) Host organizations shall provide their Interns with relevant protective clothing 13. COMPENSATION. i) Interns shall be covered under the Workers' Compensation Act for injury or death caused by an accident in the course of duty.

9 This shall be clearly stated in the contract of INTERNSHIP . 14. LEAVE. 1. Ordinary leave i) Interns shall earn days per month, translating to 15 working days per annum. ii) Interns shall be eligible to benefit from accrued leave days after 3 months of service. 2. Sick leave i) Interns shall be entitled to 30 days' paid sick leave. ii) Any period of sick leave beyond 30 days shall be unpaid. 3. Maternity leave i) Interns who fall pregnant during the course of their INTERNSHIP will be released from the PROGRAMME , but given priority in the next intake following delivery and on production of a medical report indicating their fitness to proceed with the PROGRAMME . 4. Compassionate leave i) Interns shall be granted a compassionate leave of up to 5 working days. 15. SUPERVISION. i) Host organizations or departments shall monitor the performance of Interns during service. ii) At the end of the service, the host organization or department shall produce an exit report.

10 16. CONDUCT. i) Interns shall be expected to conduct themselves in line with established rules and regulations of host organizations or departments. 17. DISCIPLINE. i) Disciplinary proceedings shall conform to relevant instruments such as the Employment Act, Public Service Act, and its Regulations, and General Orders, or those of host organizations. ii) In case of ordinary misconduct, the service of Interns shall be terminated, with notice. iii) In case of serious misconduct, the service of Interns shall be terminated without notice. iv) In case of termination, Interns shall not be entitled to their benefits and / or retained portion of allowance. v) In case of conviction for any offence, Interns shall be dismissed from service. 18. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE. i) Upon satisfactory completion of service, Interns shall be awarded certificates of service. ii) Certificates of service awarded to Interns shall not be graded.