USED AND UNPAID
- Demand increase following hike of student allowances
- Workload equivalent to that of permanent staff
The hopes of unemployed citizen graduates who have been able to secure placement in the two-year national internship programme to have their allowance increased following the hike of student allowances have been dashed.
Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Peggy Serame recently adjusted tertiary student allowances from P1 320 to P1 920 as of next month in a bid to address inflation impacts and high cost of living. However, interns who have been receiving P1 320 as allowances will continue to receive the same.
In an interview with The Midweek Sun, an Internal Audit intern in one of the government hospitals who studied Bachelor of Finance at the University of Botswana said the ministry's view that interns should apply for internships near their place of residence to cut rent costs is not practical.
The intern whose identity has been concealed for fear of victimisation wonders where in her rural and underdeveloped home village would she secure an internship post for her professional discipline.
"Where would I get a role for my qualifications there? Nowhere. I am looking for an internship to gain experience, and this forces me to relocate to a place where I would need money for rent. What is the minimum rental fee and transport to work in towns and major villages where my qualifications would work? I have to wear formal clothes to work, buy groceries, and all that requires money,” she says.
She further emphasised that interns continue to perform a vital role as they work eight hours from Monday to Friday and this means that they have no time for any income generating activity outside work.
"At least if interns worked for half a day so that they are able to engage in other income generating activities, then it would be better. It is stressful and depressing to do the same job as our supervisors, with the same energy and time only to be given P1 320 while tertiary students are given P1
920," she queried.
Another intern, an Information Technology (IT) graduate, also at a local hospital says his job entails moving around responding to technical emergencies with network connectivity in the district, something he does with passion but feels like is not well rewarded for.
"When it comes to the workload, we are considered staff instead of interns. We are overworked and underpaid. We are not even given protective clothing as it is meant for permanent staff only.
“One could imagine the impact I could suffer if for example during the course of work I accidentally drop a central processing unit (CPU) or printer on my toes. They do not care because they know when that happens they will hire another intern," he complains.
He adds that right now, as critical as it is, he is failing to get a driver's license because he cannot afford to take himself through Driving School. He believes that he was better off as a student because he was staying on campus with free internet and no transportation costs.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Palapye, Onnetse Ramogapi has challenged government to increase the internship allowance after the recent announcement by Finance minister.
“Batswana are happy with the service they receive from interns. Most government departments would not be able to function properly without the resilience and dedication provided by interns.
“It is high time the government takes interns seriously and increase their allowance. The government should also consider hiring interns permanently after they conclude their internship program,’’ he said.
- Workload equivalent to that of permanent staff
The hopes of unemployed citizen graduates who have been able to secure placement in the two-year national internship programme to have their allowance increased following the hike of student allowances have been dashed.
Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Peggy Serame recently adjusted tertiary student allowances from P1 320 to P1 920 as of next month in a bid to address inflation impacts and high cost of living. However, interns who have been receiving P1 320 as allowances will continue to receive the same.
In an interview with The Midweek Sun, an Internal Audit intern in one of the government hospitals who studied Bachelor of Finance at the University of Botswana said the ministry's view that interns should apply for internships near their place of residence to cut rent costs is not practical.
The intern whose identity has been concealed for fear of victimisation wonders where in her rural and underdeveloped home village would she secure an internship post for her professional discipline.
"Where would I get a role for my qualifications there? Nowhere. I am looking for an internship to gain experience, and this forces me to relocate to a place where I would need money for rent. What is the minimum rental fee and transport to work in towns and major villages where my qualifications would work? I have to wear formal clothes to work, buy groceries, and all that requires money,” she says.
She further emphasised that interns continue to perform a vital role as they work eight hours from Monday to Friday and this means that they have no time for any income generating activity outside work.
"At least if interns worked for half a day so that they are able to engage in other income generating activities, then it would be better. It is stressful and depressing to do the same job as our supervisors, with the same energy and time only to be given P1 320 while tertiary students are given P1
920," she queried.
Another intern, an Information Technology (IT) graduate, also at a local hospital says his job entails moving around responding to technical emergencies with network connectivity in the district, something he does with passion but feels like is not well rewarded for.
"When it comes to the workload, we are considered staff instead of interns. We are overworked and underpaid. We are not even given protective clothing as it is meant for permanent staff only.
“One could imagine the impact I could suffer if for example during the course of work I accidentally drop a central processing unit (CPU) or printer on my toes. They do not care because they know when that happens they will hire another intern," he complains.
He adds that right now, as critical as it is, he is failing to get a driver's license because he cannot afford to take himself through Driving School. He believes that he was better off as a student because he was staying on campus with free internet and no transportation costs.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Palapye, Onnetse Ramogapi has challenged government to increase the internship allowance after the recent announcement by Finance minister.
“Batswana are happy with the service they receive from interns. Most government departments would not be able to function properly without the resilience and dedication provided by interns.
“It is high time the government takes interns seriously and increase their allowance. The government should also consider hiring interns permanently after they conclude their internship program,’’ he said.
