The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment-Creation launched Namibia’s Annual Productivity Awareness Campaign Week on Monday.

Minister Utoni Nujoma said the purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness among the Namibian workforce and the general public about the advantages and significance of productivity.

“A nation’s wealth is not measured solely by the abundance of material possessions, but rather by the collective effort of its people to create, innovate and contribute to the betterment of society. Productivity is the cornerstone upon which the structure of national prosperity is built. Moreover, productivity is the key source of economic growth and competitiveness,” he noted.

“A country’s ability to improve its standard of living depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker. 

When we speak of productivity, we speak of the innovation that leads to groundbreaking discoveries, the diligence that transforms raw materials into valuable goods, and the creativity which gives rise to new industries. Growth in labour productivity is directly attributable to fluctuations in physical capital, new technology, and human capital,” Nujoma said.

“Physical capital is the tools, equipment and facilities which workers have to use to produce goods, while new technologies are new methods to combine inputs to produce more outputs, such as assembly lines or automation, whereas human capital represents the increase in education and specialisation of the workforce,” he added.

The ministry first launched the Productivity Awareness-Raising Week in October 2018 to promote the importance of productivity to individuals, organisations and the Namibian nation at large.

This year’s productivity week is being held at the Erongo Expo in Swakopmund under the theme “A productive nation is a wealthy nation”.

Meanwhile, Nujoma called on the public to follow activities on the ministry’s social media platforms, as well as visit their exhibition stand at the expo for more information about the importance of productivity and its benefits to the country.

- Nampa