As we approach the swearing-in of a new National Assembly on the 21st of March 2025, the urgency for labour reform for the working class in Namibia could not be emphasised enough, especially for those in the rapidly-expanding offshore oil and gas sector.
In recent years, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has highlighted that Namibia has yet to ratify a staggering number of international labour standards, specifically 56 conventions. These conventions encompass critical areas such as occupational safety and health, wages, labour inspections and social security. Such delays in ratification are significant, particularly when considering the pressing welfare challenges faced by employees in the Namibian fishing industry as a case study, which harshly reveals the deficiencies in our country’s labour laws and safety standards.
In an inspirational move just weeks before his political retirement, Minister of Works and Transport and Deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa presented the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), to the National Assembly. Originally ratified during the 94th Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference on the 23rd of February 2006, the MLC 2006 aims to consolidate 37 existing conventions and related recommendations addressing crucial aspects such as employment agreements, hours of work and rest, minimum age, wage payments, paid annual leave, repatriation, onboard medical care, utilisation of recruitment services, accommodation, food provisions, health and safety protections, accident prevention, and complaint mechanisms for seafarers.
While we commend Mutorwa’s proactive steps toward enhancing the conditions for maritime workers, it is vital to recognise that the execution of this vision now lies in the hands of the next minister of works and transport, alongside the freshly-elected parliamentarians.
Therefore, irrespective of political affiliations, the new parliament must prioritise the welfare of maritime workers within their first 100 days of taking office. To achieve this, several essential legislative acts should be incorporated into their agenda.
First and foremost, a commitment to ratifying important ILO conventions, particularly C155 (Occupational Safety and Health) and C129 (Labour Inspection), is vital.
These conventions lay the groundwork for creating a robust legal framework designed to protect workers’ rights and ensure safe workplaces. The absence of such ratifications leaves workers exposed and their rights unprotected, risking their health and safety.
In addition to ratification, parliamentarians should advocate for the establishment of comprehensive labour inspection mechanisms and stricter enforcement of occupational safety protocols. Furthermore, investing in training initiatives focused on health and safety certification can empower workers with the knowledge necessary to protect themselves and their colleagues.
Workers in the offshore oil and gas sector are frequently exposed to hazardous materials and strenuous working conditions, which are fraught with significant risks. It is imperative that new laws are enacted to enforce the establishment of an Independent Offshore Safety Regulator, ensure strict adherence to safety protocols, and mandate regular independent inspections.
These measures are not optional; they are non-negotiable for safeguarding the lives of those who contribute to our economy. Workers in the oil and gas fields often endure prolonged periods away from their families, living in harsh and isolating conditions. Therefore, it is essential to establish a welfare programme that provides mental health support, financial assistance, and family care.
Initiatives for the employees
It is our responsibility to ensure that those who labour in these critical sectors do not suffer in silence. Another crucial aspect of empowering workers is stimulating the role of labour unions by passing legislation that enhances union rights for offshore workers, thereby making it easier for workers to organise and voice their concerns without fear of victimisation.
Moreover, our government must enact laws that hold companies fully accountable for their oppressive labour practices. This includes introducing a safety case regime that requires companies to demonstrate effective management of major hazards, adhering to the OPRC 1990 and SOLAS regulations for spill preparedness and maritime safety, and adopting ISO 45001 standards for Occupational Health and Safety management systems.
Ultimately, the responsibility for improving the lives of maritime workers rests squarely on the shoulders of the new government, and our parliamentarians have a duty to prioritise the interests of the marginalised masses who significantly contribute to Namibia’s economy.
They must reject the notion that economic growth can occur at the expense of sacrificing worker safety and rights on the altar of greed, profit and exploitation.
*Knowledge Ndunge Ipinge is the former regional councillor for Walvis Bay Urban, an Alumnus of the Global Labour Universities (GLU), and a strategist of the Erongo Offshore Safety Conference.