Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation
Query: Okahandja Labour Office, look at how the workers are treated by their employers. There are companies that don’t treat their workers in accordance with the labour laws of our country. Ministry of Labour, Industrial Creation and Employment Creation, stand up and do something. At the company I used to work for, we had to take insults on a daily basis. I could not take it any longer and I had to quit my job but the so-called Labour Inspector sided with the company when I took my case to him. No wonder people call them sell-outs.
Response: At the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, we highly advocate for sound harmonious labour relations at all times. Therefore, the achievement of harmonious labour relations form the basis of our interventions in all complaints registered at our offices. In case the employee is dissatisfied with the outcome of the Labour Inspector’s intervention, the Labour Act, Act No. 11 of 2007, makes provision for such employee to lodge a dispute with the Office of the Labour Commissioner as per section 82 (7).
A picture in New Era, which carried the caption lead titled: “Child Labour” (June 4, 2015)
Response: According to the Labour Act, 2007, no person shall employ any child under the age of 14 years for any purpose whatsoever. Any form of work that interferes with child’s education (The Namibian Constitution, Article 15(2)) is thus regarded as a violation of the Namibian Constitution as well as the Labour Act. The Labour Act further, in Chapter 2(6), stipulates that: “It is an offence for any person to employ, or require or permit, a child to work in any circumstances prohibited under this section and a person who is convicted of the offence is liable to a fine not exceeding N$20 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years, or both.” The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation thus encourages members of the public to report such incidents or any labour cases to the nearest Labour Office or to SMS line 66111.
Contact person: Maria N Hedimbi, Chief Public Relations Officer Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, Email address: mhedimbi@mol.gov.na
Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service
Query: President Hage Geingob, are you aware of what is happening in NYS? We want to know what the responsibilities of the minister of youth are and also find out if he is working at his house or at the office.
Response: Hereby please be informed that the Honourable Minister has an office at the NDC Building in Goethe Street. Should the author of the SMS wish for an audience with Hon. Ekandjo, his office has always been accessible to whomever, as the Honourable Minister has always been a supporter of an open door policy. But given the fact that many people wish for an audience with the Honourable Minister, this is therefore done through appointments. Granted it could have happened that the author showed up and found that the Honourable Minister was not in the office but surely this does not lend belief to allegation of continuous absence. As a servant of the people, Hon. Ekandjo is always invited to attend and officiate at events within the jurisdiction of his mandate and as such there will be instances where he will not be in the office. Already, the Honourable Minister has embarked upon familiarisation visits, in the company of the national broadcaster, NBC TV, thus highlighting his beliefs in transparency and accessibility. Importantly, Hon Ekandjo has been appointed as the minister of youth to put in place strategies that promote civic education, cultivation of good morals and citizenship in preparing the youth to become future leaders of this country. In this regard, the minister has committed himself to implement programmes aimed at developing sport infrastructure, youth development, skills development and the improvement of the National Youth Service (NYS) programmes.
Query: We also want to know the purpose of NYS?
Response: The National Youth Service is a statutory body that is governed by the National Youth Service Act, (Act No. of 2005). Although, NYS is an assigned duty of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service it is also a statutory body operating on its own. Therefore, in observance of the afore-mentioned NYS has been requested to respond to the allegations contained in the SMS.
Contact person: Aina Shikesho, Chief Public Relations Officer, Ministry Of Sport, Youth and National Service, Email: shikeshoaina@gmail.com
Ministry of Information and Communication Technology
Query: What is the aim of the Nationhood and National Pride (NNP) campaign and what are the NNP activities lined up for this year?
Response: The NNP campaign is aimed at promoting national pride and unity among citizens. The programme further aims at promoting a spirit of ONE NAMIBIA ONE NATION by using national leaders to speak out against tribalism, racism, violence against women, lack of respect toward national symbol and vandalism of public properties. Key NNP activities for this year includes the establishment of NNP regional structures as well as the launch of a mass media campaign on the programme which will feature Namibian everyday heroes sharing their stories of patriotism and national unity.
*These issues were raised in New Era and The Namibian.