Botswana diamond firm trampling on workers’ rights20 May, 2026The Botswana Diamond Workers Union (BDWU) has declared a formal dispute at Genesis HB Botswana, a diamond cutting and polishing company wholly owned by HP Antwerp, a Belgian diamond technology company. The Botswana government holds shares in HP Antwerp as part of its efforts to give the country a bigger stake in its own diamond industry.
Unions voice concerns over Anglo American restructuring19 March, 2026IndustriALL Global Union affiliates from Australia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe stressed on protecting workers’ rights and benefits at the annual global dialogue meeting in Johannesburg on 12-13 March.
Curbing violations by Chinese multinationals in African critical minerals boom31 October, 2025As the world races towards net zero, Africa’s vast reserves of cobalt, lithium and copper, which are vital for electric-vehicle batteries and renewable-energy technologies, have huge potential to industrialize the continent and boost manufacturing. Yet in the extraction of the critical minerals, Chinese multinationals, are engaging in unfair labour practices, paying low wages, and destroying the environment.
Labour inspection exposes sexual exploitation at Dharm Cutting Works Botswana12 September, 2024A scathing labour inspection report from the ministry of labour and social security condemned sexual exploitation by a general manager at Dharm Cutting Works Botswana – a diamond cutting and polishing company based in Gaborone.
Botswana: Union fights union busting in the diamond supply chain15 August, 2024Globally, Botswana’s diamond manufacturing supply chain is seen as a shining example of the sector in Africa. But unions say with the current union busting the country’s diamonds are becoming dirty.
Beyond the sparkle: advancing workers' rights in the diamond sector23 February, 2024Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Lesotho Highlands in the Butha Buthe District, home to the country's diamond mines, IndustriALL Global Union’s Global Diamond Network convened on 20-21 February to strategize on promoting decent work within the diamond industry.
Union win stops unfair retrenchments at Botswana diamond mine8 May, 2023The Botswana Mine Workers Union’s (BMWU) win in an industrial court on 28 April has stopped unfair retrenchments at Lucara Botswana’s security department at the Karowe diamond mine, the same mine which unearthed “Lesedi la rona” (our light) in 2015 - the largest diamond to be discovered in a century. The mine has also dug three diamonds with over 1,000 carats each and sold “The Constellation”, an 813-carat diamond for a record US$63 million for a rough gem in 2016.
Young workers commit to active participation in transforming trade unions in Botswana28 July, 2022The youth activist schools are spaces where young workers discuss how they can be catalysts in the transformation of trade unions. Recommendations from the schools have included strategies and tactics on how young workers can be change agents that shape and drive the future of unions.
Precarious working conditions of diamond cutting and polishing workers in Botswana expose jewellery brands25 June, 2020Over 277 jobs were recently lost in Botswana’s diamond cutting and polishing sector. IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Botswana Diamond Workers Union (BDWU), is protesting against the precarious working conditions in the industry.
Botswana union challenges leader’s unfair dismissal15 April, 2019The unfair dismissal of Goleba Botshome, the general secretary of the Botswana Diamond Workers Union (BDWU), by Pluczenik Diamonds exposes the gross human and workers’ rights violations that are rampant in the diamond sector in Botswana.
