The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) has adopted the government’s call to introduce a living wage, raising monthly pay for 40 outsourced cleaning, guarding, and security workers to P4,000 from 1 July 2025.
BOCRA said the move, part of its 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, aligns with Pillar 1 of Botswana’s National Transformation Strategy Framework, which prioritises human and social development for an inclusive society.
The regulator believes the increase will significantly improve livelihoods while supporting the government’s broader social inclusion agenda.
The P4,000 living wage is well above Botswana’s current general minimum wage of about P1,321 a month, highlighting the gap between statutory pay floors and the cost of living.
The initiative follows similar moves by large employers such as Choppies and comes amid political momentum to make the P4,000 threshold standard across the formal sector.
While supporters say the change will reduce poverty and boost spending power, critics warn of potential pressure on smaller businesses, with risks of job cuts or price increases.