By Tuulikki Abraham
LÜDERITZ – The Directorate of Social Welfare in the labour ministry met in Lüderitz to review its achievements for 2014 and plan ahead.
In her address at the gathering the Director of Social Welfare, Dr Valentina Mulongeni, said the department wants to assess its goals and do major further planning.
She said assessments enable the directorate to review its achievements aimed at bettering citizens’ lives.
“Social pensions as the elderly normally refer to them have a huge positive impact on society. Some people may take the services that we deliver lightly and do not attach any worth to it. However, we in the field know better as we are the ones that at times wipe away tears of social despair,” said Mulongeni.
“We are the ones that ensure that there is bread on the tables of vulnerable groups and we are the ones that tirelessly work towards the creation of social harmony in our society,” she added.
She emphasized that the workshop offered an opportunity to do stocktaking of the previous year’s activities, to assess which goals were fulfilled and to look at the ones that were not met, then to interrogate issues that led to goals not being met while at the same time formulate workable solutions.
The labour ministry considered it important to request the International Labour Organization (ILO) to undertake a review on adequacy, effectiveness and sustainability of its social expenditure and related measures, especially in light of the current global economic crisis.
She pleaded with everybody to take their responsibility even more seriously than before, to put clients first and take control of their work situations in all possible ways.
Also speaking at the event the Mayor of Lüderitz, Suzan Ndjaleka, heaped praise on the labour ministry for choosing Lüderitz as the venue of the workshop this year.
“It certainly reassures us as a council that Lüderitz is doing well in terms of not only adventure tourism but business tourism as well,” said Ndjaleka.
Ndjaleka also welcomed delegates and at the same time invited them to visit Lüderitz during the Easter weekend and join them for treats in a variety of seafood when the town hosts the crayfish festival.
The workshop started on Tuesday and ends on Friday.
All 14 regions are represented at the workshop.