By Kuvee Kangueehi
Windhoek
The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) has requested President Hifikepunye Pohamba to sign the new Labour Bill into law as soon as it lands on his table.
The decision to make the request to the president was taken at the 25th Central Executive Committee meeting of the NUNW which took place last weekend.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, the Secretary General of the NUNW Evilastus Kaaronda said the request was made following a letter by the Namibia Employers Federation (NEF) to Pohamba that the bill should not be signed into law as it outlaws labour hire.
Kaaronda said the NUNW CEC believes that the opinion of the NEF that the new Labour Bill in its current form outlaws outsourcing and subcontracting is flawed and also misplaced as it permits NEF to conveniently ignore the intention of the legislators in passing the Bill.
The secretary general said the CEC was dismayed by the view of the NEF that the Namibian labour market is rigid and that the new Labour Bill helps to contribute to this rigidity.
Kaaronda said the NEF should concentrate on gainful economic activities that would in the letter and spirit of the ILO Decent Work agenda promote the creation of gainful employment for the Namibian people. The CEC called on the NEF to do away with underemployment.
At its meeting the CEC also noted with concern the possibility that Ramatex management is busy repatriating key industrial machinery to Asia in preparation for its exit.
The CEC also expressed its worry about the poor and absolutely absent monitoring of skills transfer to the Namibian workers at Ramatex.
The CEC, the highest decision-making body of the NUNW in the absence of a congress, called on the Government to conduct a thorough skills transfer audit on Ramatex since its inception.
The CEC further expressed its deep concern and disappointment at the way in which some Chinese investors, mostly those in the construction industry, violate Namibian laws.
Kaaronda said there are allegations that some of the Chinese investors in the construction industry make use of cheap labour brought from China, some of whom are allegedly prison-serving Chinese nationals.
The CEC resolved that the Government should also investigate the allegations with the utmost urgency.
At the same meeting the CEC took note that economic growth is essential but not sufficient to ensure equity, social progress and the eradication of poverty. The CEC called on the NUNW to promote strong social policies, justice and democratic institutions.
“It is for this very reason that the CEC recognized the need to embed and strengthen the affirmative action policies, laws and programmes as to meaningfully integrate the previously disadvantaged Namibians into the economy through the labour market.”
At the same meeting the CEC also nominated its delegates to the Swapo Party Congress, which starts tomorrow in the capital. The NUNW will send 15 delegates to the congress.