National Internship Programme - Government of Botswana

NATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
MISSION STATEMENT
The programme under the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs is meant to be the window for
transferring skills to up and coming young executives. The National Internship Programme
would provide a seamless integration of graduates into the economy.
What services does the Division offer?
The programme’s main framework is such that graduate students from various academic fields
may be assigned to government and private sector offices where their educational experience
could be enhanced through practical work experience.
Part of the governance structure will include a Council made up of government and private
sector members to advice government. We trust that the program will help speed up
localisation process in the country.
OBJECTIVE
All individuals who will graduate this year are informed that the Ministry of Labour and Home
Affairs will start registration on the 1 st November 2008.
1. SELECTION
i. All degree holders from tertiary institutions in and outside
Botswana.

2. ELIGIBILITY
i) Persons eligible for this scheme shall be:
a) Citizens of Botswana
b) Shall have graduated on or after 2008
3. PLACEMENT
ii) Graduates willing to participate in the scheme shall enter into a written
agreement with the Government of Botswana for a period of twelve months, with
an option of a shorter period in the event that the intern receives an offer of
permanent employment before expiry of the 12 month period. The agreement
shall be binding to all parties involved.
i) Relevant Ministries and Organizations shall be responsible for posting of Interns to
specific departments or units, in consultation with the Internship Unit.
ii) Postings shall be done in accordance with the academic qualifications of the Interns.
iii) Preference shall be given to places where the Interns have accommodation.
iv) Placement preference to peri-urban areas shall be given to Interns with business skills,
for interaction with business communities and industries.
4. TRANFERS
i) Where necessary, Interns shall be transferred to meet the exigencies of the service; on
medical grounds; to join spouse upon marriage; or on swapping basis, provided it
meets the approval of the Coordinator/Director and or host organization.
POST SERVICE BENEFITS
i) Internship period shall form part of the probation period upon permanent employment
in public service.

ii) Internship period shall form a significant part of probation upon permanent employment
in the private sector.
PAID EMPLOYMENT
i) Interns shall cease to participate under the Internship program if they are
engaged in paid employment elsewhere.
ii) Participants shall not be permitted to conduct any trade or business during
working hours.
TRAINING
i) Every endeavour shall be made to ensure that the internship program offers a
useful and hands-on learning experience for the participants and to that end,
where feasible, on the job training initiatives such as through seminars and
workshops would be encouraged.
MEDICAL COVER
Interns shall undergo a pre-service medical examination (To assist in posting Interns and in
compensation matters).
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
i) Host organizations shall provide their Interns with relevant protective clothing
COMPENSATION

i) Interns shall be covered under the Workers’ Compensation Act for injury or death
caused by an accident in the course of duty. This shall be clearly stated in the
contract of internship.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
i) Upon satisfactory completion of service, Interns shall be awarded certificates of
service.
ii) Certificates of service awarded to Interns shall not be graded.
INTERNS LIABILITY AND LOSS OF STORES
i) At the end of the program, or upon termination of service, records of participants
shall be checked for any debts or loss of returnable supplies of host organizations.
ii) Such cases shall be promptly reported to the unit with recommendations to
withhold participants’ savings so that deductions may be made where necessary.
iii) If the loss is for a substantial amount, host organizations shall notify the unit for
appropriate action to be taken against the intern.
PROGRAMME COORDINATION
i) A special unit shall be set up to coordinate the activities of the program.
ii)
The unit shall be headed by the director.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME GUIDELINES
1. SELECTION
i) All degree holders from tertiary institutions in and outside Botswana.
2. ELIGIBILITY
i) Persons eligible for this scheme shall be:
a) Citizens of Botswana

ii) Graduates willing to participate in the scheme shall enter into a written
agreement with the Government of Botswana for a period of twelve
months, with an option of a shorter period in the event that the intern
receives an offer of permanent employment before expiry of the 12
months period. The agreement shall be binding to all parties involved.
3. PLACEMENT
i) Relevant Ministries and Organizations shall be responsible for posting of
Interns to specific departments or units, in consultation with the
Internship Unit.
ii) Postings shall be done in accordance with the academic qualifications of the
Interns.
iii) Preference shall be given to places where the Interns have accommodation.
iv) Placement preference to peri-urban areas shall be given to Interns with
business skills, for interaction with business communities and industries.
4. TRANSFERS
i) Where necessary, Interns shall be transferred to meet the exigencies of the
service; on medical grounds; to join spouse upon marriage; or on
swapping basis, provided it meets the approval of the
Coordinator/Director and or host organization.

5. PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES
i) Provision of interns for 12 months, on which they could build their succession
plans.
ii) Participating organizations are encouraged to pay a full allowance.
iii) Participating organizations shall be allowed to use the Internship Department
logo for their promotional activities, etc.
(iv) Participating organizations shall be awarded certificate of appreciation for
their contributions to the success of the programme.
6. POST SERVICE BENEFITS
i) Internship period shall form part of the probation period upon permanent
employment in public service.
ii) Internship period shall form a significant part of probation period upon
permanent employment in the private sector.
7. LIVING ALLOWANCES
i) Level of allowance payable under the scheme shall be determined by
government from time to time.
ii) The initial allowance shall be P2000.00, payable per month in arrears.
8. OTHER ALLOWANCES
i) Where Interns work beyond their normal working hours, appropriate
compensation shall apply.
ii) Where Interns work outside their duty stations, applicable meal and
subsistence allowances shall apply.
iii) Where Interns are placed in departments and organizations where there are
special allowances like RASA, commuted overtime allowance and risk
allowance, appropriate remuneration package shall apply.
9. PAID EMPLOYMENT
i) Interns shall cease to participate under the Internship programme if they are
engaged in paid employment elsewhere.
ii) Participants shall not be permitted to conduct any trade or business during
working hours.
10. TRAINING
i) Every endeavour shall be made to ensure that the internship programme offers
a useful and hands-on learning experience for the participants and to that
end, where feasible, on the job training initiatives such as through
seminars and workshops would be encouraged.

11. MEDICAL COVER
i) Interns shall undergo a pre-service medical examination (To assist in posting
Interns and in compensation matters).
12. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
i) Host organizations shall provide their Interns with relevant protective clothing
13. COMPENSATION
i) Interns shall be covered under the Workers’ Compensation Act for injury or
death caused by an accident in the course of duty. This shall be clearly
stated in the contract of internship.
14. LEAVE
1. Ordinary leave
i) Interns shall earn 1.25 days per month, translating to 15 working days per
annum.
ii) Interns shall be eligible to benefit from accrued leave days after 3 months of
service.
2. Sick leave
i) Interns shall be entitled to 30 days’ paid sick leave.
ii) Any period of sick leave beyond 30 days shall be unpaid.
3. Maternity leave
i) Interns who fall pregnant during the course of their internship will be released
from the programme, but given priority in the next intake following
delivery and on production of a medical report indicating their fitness to
proceed with the programme.
4. Compassionate leave
i) Interns shall be granted a compassionate leave of up to 5 working days.
15. SUPERVISION
i) Host organizations or departments shall monitor the performance of Interns
during service.
ii) At the end of the service, the host organization or department shall produce
an exit report.

16. CONDUCT
i) Interns shall be expected to conduct themselves in line with established rules
and regulations of host organizations or departments.
17. DISCIPLINE
i) Disciplinary proceedings shall conform to relevant instruments such as the
Employment Act, Public Service Act, and its Regulations, and General
Orders, or those of host organizations.
ii) In case of ordinary misconduct, the service of Interns shall be terminated,
with notice.
iii) In case of serious misconduct, the service of Interns shall be terminated
without notice.
iv) In case of termination, Interns shall not be entitled to their benefits and / or
retained portion of allowance.
v) In case of conviction for any offence, Interns shall be dismissed from service.
18. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
i) Upon satisfactory completion of service, Interns shall be awarded certificates
of service.
ii) Certificates of service awarded to Interns shall not be graded.
19. INTERNS LIABILITY AND LOSS OF STORES
i) At the end of the programme, or upon termination of service, records of
participants shall be checked for any debts or loss of returnable supplies
of host organizations.
ii) Such cases shall be promptly reported to the Department with
recommendations to withhold participants’ savings so that deductions may
be made where necessary.
iii) If the loss is for a substantial amount, host organizations shall notify the
Department for appropriate action to be taken against the Intern.
20. PROGRAMME COORDINATION
i) A special Department shall be set up to coordinate the activities of the
programme.
ii) The Department shall be headed by the Director.
* * *

For any clarification, contact the Internship Liaison Officers or Public Relations
Officer at:
Mr Ditso Anneleng – 3611100 / 3611145
danneleng@gov.bw
Mrs Goitseone Kokorwe – 3611507
gtkokorwe@gov.bw
Mrs Lebogang Bok – 3611100 / 3611115
lbok@gov.bw
mlha-pro@lists.gov.bw
OFFICE LOCATION
SAGG HOUSE- MAIN MALL (OPPOSITE POST OFFICE)
2 ND AND 3 RD FLOOR
PPRIVATE BAG 00354
GABORONE
TELEPHONE: 3170636
FAX: 3104224