Namibia: Govt’s Labour Advisors a ‘Failure,’ Says Minister

Romanus Konjore

15 July 2011

A committee of the Labour Advisory Council (LAC) established to advise the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare on the service conditions of essential services, has been called a failure.

Labour Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko said during the inauguration of the 11th LAC in Windhoek on Wednesday that the council’s Essential Services’ Committee (ESC) did not fulfil its responsibilities.

“The Essential Services Committee of the LAC, established by the outgoing LAC, failed to fulfil its responsibilities, being the identification and designation of essential services to prevent and regulate labour disputes in the sector,” he said.

The Labour Act prohibits employees and employers who render essential services from engaging in strikes and lockouts.

“The failure of the committee to make recommendations on the designation of essential services has hindered the implementation of an important provision of the Labour Act,” Ngatjizeko said.

He urged the incoming council to prioritise the ESC, and to make sure that it starts work as soon as possible.

Another concern raised by the minister is the involvement of labour consultants representing their clients in conciliation and arbitration tribunals.

“I, therefore, request the new LAC to investigate this matter, and to advise the minister accordingly,” he said.

One of the core functions of the LAC is to advise the minister on a wide scope of matters related to labour and employment.

The council is a tripartite body, and consists of members of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna), the Namibian Employers’ Federation (NEF), the Namibian Employers’ Association (NEA) and representatives from Government.

Ngatjizeko said recommendations that were made by the Labour Commissioner, Bro-Matthew Shinguadja, to the outgoing LAC Committee on Dispute Prevention and Resolution (CDPR), have not been reported on yet either.

A possible reason for the inaction might be the fact that the committee has been without a chairperson for some time, he said.

“However, a new chair[man] has been appointed, and I am now looking forward to receiving the reports as soon as possible,” Ngatjizeko said.

The CDPR has the mandate to review the performance of dispute prevention and resolution by the Labour Commissioner, and to report thereon to the LAC.

The outgoing LAC also established the Exemptions Committee (EC), which reviews and advises on applications for exemption to train Namibian under-studies.

“This is an important function that requires the critical analysis and attention of the new LAC,” Ngatjizeko said.

The minister urged the new LAC to place issues of unemployment and job creation on its priority list, and to make tripartite recommendations in finding solutions to this national challenge. – Nampa

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