The working class performs essential jobs across sectors like manufacturing, logistics and retail, but they often face financial instability and low wages. 

As the world marked May Day, or Worker’s Day yesterday, the uncertainty on the faces of many workers who flocked to various gatherings to observe the day could not go unnoticed. Many are worried – and quiet rightly so – that their pleas for better working conditions from their employers have fallen on deaf ears. 

Their economic contribution is crucial to business operations, but they struggle with job security, limited savings and representation in politics and the media. This is a grave concern. 

This is a sector of the entire working population which requires urgent attention if the country is to redress the inherited inequality and unfairness that engulfed the labour sector – largely due to demeaning apartheid laws. 

Workers in Namibia during apartheid lived oppressed and difficult lives. They had to endure extreme racial prejudice and demeaning social norms which degraded their existence as people. The workers and their employers had a parasitic relationship; the employers underpaid and undervalued the servants due to their race and position in society. These problems caused the workers great pain and suffering in their journey for a better life, but their perseverance eventually paid off, and they achieved their goal of unionising. They at first struggled to unionise, but once they did, they were able to influence legislation and gain benefits which helped them better their lives. 

The mining sector was perhaps the worst perpetrator of workplace injustices against those who dared to work in mines. The mining companies borrowed a tactic which earlier slaveholders and settlers had used to control black workers – demeaning pass laws. As early as the 18th century, these laws had required members of the black majority, and other people of colour, to carry identification papers at all times, and restricted their movements in certain areas. 

With the onset of the country’s hard-fought independence, these laws were something of the past. Government has worked hard to pass new laws that address prevailing inequality, unfairness and injustices. Despite these good showings, the working class is yet to fully catch up and comfortably sit by the dinner table with all and sundry. 

Traditionally associated with manual labour and service-based roles, the working class forms the backbone of both local and global economies. However, as the market evolves with automation and globalisation, businesses must understand the working class dynamics to manage labour effectively, ensure productivity and drive growth. 

Without an effective working-class workforce, many business operations would face delays, increased costs and compromised service quality. For this reason, companies must carefully manage scheduling, workload distribution and operational efficiency to optimise labour performance. 

The working class encounters financial, social and economic challenges that make achieving stability and upward mobility difficult. These difficulties are tied to income instability, job security and limited resource access. 

Another primary struggle for the working class is balancing the need for savings with inconsistent incomes. Workers in low-wage or unstable jobs face wage cuts, reduced hours or layoffs, which disrupt their financial planning. 

While they need to build savings to cover bills and emergencies, drops in income make it difficult to save, leading many to live salary-to-salary. When unexpected expenses arise, such as medical bills, they often rely on credit, which can further trap them in debt cycles. 

The working class is often under-represented in decision-making, politics and the media. Without adequate representation, policies which directly impact their well-being—such as wage laws, employment benefits and housing policies—are often shaped without their input. Additionally, media portrayals can perpetuate negative stereotypes, making it harder for the working class to gain public support for their struggles and demands. 

The participation of individuals from working-class backgrounds in creative industries has sharply declined. Financial barriers, such as the inability to afford unpaid internships or professional training, limit access to these fields. The lack of networks and mentorship makes it harder for working-class creatives to establish themselves, resulting in under-representation in cultural and creative spaces. 

In short, more needs to be done by all sectors to fully intergrate the working class with the rest of the working population. After all, they are the ones who keep the wheels of our economy oiled and turning. If only for that, they surely would deserve more.