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The third meeting of the first session of the 10th Parliament starts today with finance and development planning minister, Mr Kenneth Matambo delivering his maiden budget speech.Given reports that Botswanas economy was likely to register some growth following recovery of the global economy from recession, trade unions have called for salary increment for public officers.Last year public officers did not receive any salary adjustments because the world was undergoing a devastating financial crisis and developing countries such as Botswana were not spared.Botswana Manual Workers Unions (BMWU), Mr Johnson Motshwarakgole, has accused government of failure to consult unions to negotiation wage as per the provisions of the Rules and Constitution of the National Joint Industrial Coordinating Committee (NIJCC).We have forums that government can consult us as far as collective bargaining is concerned. As far as we are concerned, the economy is fine, so government should increase salaries of the public servants, he said.

Mr Motshwarakgole revealed that last October, his office wrote the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) a letter for a special meeting of the NIJCC but there has been no response.He added that government also failed to promote unions interests but instead fanned divisions among them, something he said distracted government from understanding industrial relations.Also, he said something must be done this year to improve Batswanas welfare, arguing that people were struggling to pay service levies which were ridiculously hiked.While Mr Motshwarakgole insisted on a review of salaries, Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) leader, Mr Japhta Radibe was not optimistic about anything, not even salary increment because of the strain from the recession.Mr Radibe said since the introduction of the delivery component in President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khamas roadmap, they expected the ministers speech to emphasise more on prudent use of limited resources.However, he said, I believe this time government must invest in education. It is through such difficult times that education is crucial as it provides one with skills, adding that government must also invest in commercial farming.

Nevertheless, Mr Radibe also blamed government for failing to improve the conditions of service for public servants, which he said must be negotiated. He said salaries must be discussed with unions adding without negotiations nothing can be done. Our democracy has been badly damaged and we seriously condemn government for failure to promote social dialogue.For his part, Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) leader, Mr Andrew Motsamai was hopeful for a modest increase given economic recovery. We believe poverty breeds hopelessness and despair and as we wait for the 2010/11 budget speech, we shall do so fully aware that government is yet to take employees and trade unions interests seriously, he said.Furthermore, he expressed optimism that the budget would provide an insight into governments future planning and measures to cushion workers should another economic disaster strike.

He said government should call for a rigorous review of all decisions which could not be implemented. In addition, he said it was imperative to do away with failed policies.Mr Motsamai also called on the government to show commitment towards international labour practices by fast tracking the commencement of the Public Service Act, which he opined would come handy when addressing the long-term economic weaknesses.He posited that the past global recession was also an eye-opener to all labour activists as well as government.Some of the valuable lessons learnt were that if we care about people we should find ways of providing jobs that require a functional active labour market policy capable of providing meaningful social welfare security for all, he said.