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Industrial Court of Botswana

Case Referral to Court

Overview

This is a process where after mediation at District Labour Office, the matter is not settled, then the case is forwarded to the court by the parties for determination.

Who is eligible?

Any party who is aggrieved and their matter was not resolved at mediation level.  Claims that are referred to this court under this process are unfair dismissal, leave days, severance benefit, overtime, constructive dismissal etc. as cited in terms of the Rules of the Industrial Court Rules.

How do I get this service?

In order to file this application, follow the steps below:

  • Get a referral certificate in terms of Section 7(18) of the Trade Disputes Act from District Labour office
  • Complete  statement of case form in terms of Rule 25(1) of the Rules of Court 
  • Statement of case (full and detailed statement of what led to the dispute)
  • Attach any necessary and relevant supporting documents to the claim (computations and letters i.e dismissal, disciplinary process and any other written communication)
  • File and serve the application on the Respondent(s)
  • File proof of service and wait for any response from the Respondent(s)
    • If service is through personal service the waiting period is 14 days from the date of service;
    • If the service is through registered mail, then the waiting period is 21 days form the date of postage
  • Should the respondent not file any response to the claims against them within either the stipulated time under a or b above, then the matter is enrolled for a default hearing( this means that the court will only hear the applicant as the respondent has not shown any interest in the case or their silence is interpreted to mean they are conceding to owing the applicant what they are claiming)
  • Should the respondent file their response, the same has to be served on the applicant and proof of such a service filed.
  • Then the case become ready to be placed before the Honourable Judge for Case management.
  • Application is enrolled for a hearing on a date to be decided upon by the court

The court will then hear the appeal on the date set and make its determination.

What supporting documents are required?
  • Certificate of referral from District Labour office.
  • Referral form from District Labour Office.
  • Failure to reach settlement form from District Labour Office.
  • Referral letter to be completed upon registration at the Industrial Court.
  • Statement of case form – Form.
  • A full and detailed statement.
  • Computation of claims confirmed by District labour Office.
  • Any other relevant documents to the claim.
How long will this service take?

At the maturity of the case for enrollment, it shows that the respondent has not filed its statement of defense then, the case is set down as a Default Hearing and this normally takes about 6 months form registration to be completed.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

This service is offered for free.

Ministry submitting this Service

Civil Imprisonment

Overview

This is an application made to the court for the Judgment debtor to be imprisoned for failure to pay as per the settlement agreement made before the District Labour Office in terms of section 7(13) as read with 28(2) of the Trade Disputes Act of 2016.

Who is eligible?

Any party whom there has been nulla bona return filed by the Deputy Sheriff.

How do I get this service?

In order to file a civil imprisonment application, follow the steps below:

  • Complete and file a notice of motion in term of the rules of court at the court registry.
  • File a founding affidavit.
  • Draft order.

The court will then hear the appeal on the date set and make its determination.

What supporting documents are required?
  • Notice of Motion.
  • Founding Affidavit.
  • Draft Order.
  • Certificate from District Labour Office to enforce settlement agreement in terms of section 7(13) of the Trade Disputes Act of 2016.
  • Nulla Bona Return form the Deputy Sherriff.
  • Writ of execution.
  • Settlement form District Labour office.
How long will this service take?

Once the application has been delivered to the Judge for enrollment, the process is expected to be completed within approximately three (3) months.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

This service is offered for free.

Ministry submitting this Service

Urgent Applications

Overview

It is an application whereby the normal rules of court relating to services and setting time are dispensed with, due to the degree of urgency of the matter brought before court.

Who is eligible?

Any party to a case who feels that their case is urgent and they cannot get any redress in future should the case follow the normal method of enrollment.

How do I get this service?

In order to file an urgent application, follow the steps below:

  1. Complete notice of motion form at the Court Registry.
  2.  Affidavit (stating the grounds on which render the matter urgent and the reasons why the one claims that he/she could not be afforded substantial redress in due course)-The affidavit must detail the facts upon which the applicant relies upon for relief.
  3. File and serve the application on the Respondent(s).
  4. File proof of service the matter is forwarded to the Judge for assessment on the papers filed as to the urgency and communicate the way forward to the Registrar(s).
  5. If indeed the Judge determines on the papers filed that the case is urgent, and then a date will be set immediately and notices of set down dispatched to the parties.

The court will then hear the appeal on the date set and make its determination.

What supporting documents are required?
  • Notice of Motion
  • Founding Affidavit
  • Draft Order
How long will this service take?

Once the application has been delivered to the Judge for enrollment, the process is expected to be completed within approximately three months.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

This service is for free.

Ministry submitting this Service

Interlocutory Applications

Overview

This is made for condonation, variation, rescission, reinstatement or any other preliminary or interlocutory application or application incidental to any proceedings pending before court.

Who is eligible?

Any aggrieved party who would wish to have the order/judgment rescinded, and or varied as cited in terms of Rule 30 of the Industrial Court Rules or who would like to apply for reinstatement of the case that was previously struck off the roll for failure to appear as scheduled by the court.

How do I get this service?

In order to file an interlocutory application, follow the steps below.

  •  Get  a copy of the Court order/Judgment to the court registry.
  • Complete form 3  - Notice of Motion as near as can be in terms of the schedule.
  • Founding affidavit (stating the grounds on which the applicant seeks to have the order/judgment varied/rescinded).
  • If it is an application for the reinstatement of the case, the applicant must file an affidavit to explain the reasons for his/her failure to appear at court as scheduled.
  • File and serve the application to the respondent(s).
  • File proof of service and wait for any response from the respondent(s).
  • Application is enrolled for a hearing on a date to be decided upon by the court.

The court will then hear the application on the date set and make its determination.

What supporting documents are required?
How long will this service take?

Once the application has been delivered to the Judge for enrollment, the process is expected to be completed within approximately three (3) months.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

This service is offered for free.

Ministry submitting this Service

Review Application

Overview

This is a Review Under Rule 32 of the Industrial Court Rules to the Industrial court against the decision of the Mediators/Arbitrators in terms of section 21 (1)  of the Trade Disputes Act of 2016.

Who is eligible?

Any aggrieved party in terms of section cited above who wishes to have the decision set aside and the matter to be referred back to Commissioner of Labour for the matter to be allocated to another mediator/Arbitrator for arbitration/mediation to be done all over again.

How do I get this service?

In order to file a Review, follow the steps below:

  • Get a referral certificate from District Labour office and bring it to the Industrial Court Registry.
  • Complete form 3 - Notice of Motion as near as can be in terms the schedule.
  1. Affidavit (stating the grounds on which the applicant seeks to have the decisions of the arbitrator set aside)
  • Record of the proceedings from District Labour Office.
  • File and serve the application on the Respondent(s).
  • File proof of service and wait for any response from the Respondent(s).
  • Application is enrolled for a hearing on a date to be decided upon by the court.

The court will then hear the appeal on the date set and make its determination.

What supporting documents are required?
  • Form 3 – Notice of Motion
  • Certificate of referral in terms of section 7 “I” of the  Trade Disputes Act 2016
  • Record of proceedings from District Labour Office encompassing the decision at mediation/arbitration level
How long will this service take?

Once the appeal has been delivered to the Judge for enrollment, the appeal process is expected to be completed within approximately three (3) months.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

This service is for free.

Ministry submitting this Service

Appeals from District Labour Office

Overview

There are 2 types of appeal that can be lodged with the Industrial Court.

  • There can be  an appeal against the decision of the Mediators/Arbitrators in terms of section 8 (13) (14)  of Trade Disputes Act 2016.
  • Another appeal can be  against the mediators refusal for condonation of the late referral of a dispute in terms of section 7(15) of the Trade Disputes Act 2016.
Who is eligible?

For an appeal under (1) above, any aggrieved party in terms of section cited above, the said appeal can be moved only under the following reasons;

  • To join a party to the arbitration proceedings.
  • Concerning the jurisdiction of the Arbitrator to make an award.

For an appeal under (2) above, the aggrieved party can appeal to demonstrate to the court where the mediator misdirected him/herself in refusing the late referral of claims. 

How do I get this service?

In order to file an appeal under (1) or (2) above, follow the steps below:

  • Get a certificate in terms of section 7(15) of the Trade Disputes Act 2016.
  • Complete and file notice of Appeal at the Court Registry in terms of  Rule 31 of the Rules of Court.
  • Attach the necessary referral certificate, transcript of the proceedings at District Labour office.
  • File the transcript of the record of proceedings from District Labour Office.
  • Serve the application on the Respondent(s).
  • File proof of service and wait for any response from the respondent(s).
  • Application is enrolled for a hearing on a date to be decided upon by the court.

The court will then hear the appeal on the date set and make its determination.

What supporting documents are required?
  • Form 12 – Notice of Appeal.
  • Certificate of referral in terms of section 7(15) of Trade Disputes Act.
  • Record of proceedings from District Labour Office encompassing the decision at mediation/arbitration level.
How long will this service take?

Once the appeal has been submitted to the Judge for enrollment, the appeal process is expected to be completed within approximately three (3) months.

Where can I obtain this service?

Industrial Court of Botswana

Opening hours: 07:30 to 12:45 and 13:45 to 16:30 Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

There is no cost associated with this service.

Meta tags

Government of Botswana, Industrial Court of Botswana 

Keywords

Appeals 

Ministry submitting this Service
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