Catherwood LibraryILR School

State workers in Botswana have begun a strike after talks with the government broke down. The Botswana Federation of Public Service Unions, which represents around 150,000 workers said that they had called a 10-day strike, but that if the government would not negotiate, the strike may become indefinite. The workers have asked for a 16% pay increase after three years of wage freezes, but the government has only offered a 5% raise in wages if the economy improves. Around 90,000 workers are expected to participate in the strike. Striking workers include teachers and nurses. The government as said that the workers should end the strike and wait for the economy to improve.