WINDHOEK – Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA) will deliberate on workers’ rights issues at this year’s Workers’ Day celebration in Lüderitz.
The theme for the celebrations is: “Dynamic Workforce is a Must in These Trying Times”.
TUCNA, secretary general Mahongora Kavihuha, says there are still challenges to fundamental human rights such as the right to strike and the federation joined its colleagues across the globe to tackle this anomaly.
Kavihuha says the association has interrogated the social dialogue regime in Namibia with a view of transforming it because they found out that it does not serve the purpose for the workers, employers or government.
“As a result, we have carried out a comprehensive study with clear achievable recommendations,” he says, adding that the federation is busy developing a bipartite position paper between the federation and Namibian Employers’ Federation using the coalition study.
Furthermore, Kavihuha says this year’s May Day celebration, also known Workers’ Day celebration, will be characterised by the official launch of an alliance development proposal document, which was developed by all structures and membership of the federation.
He says TUCNA is convinced the development taking place in Namibia now has no meaning to the majority of the ordinary people. “In fact, this is development that is aimed to develop further the gap between the haves and the have-nots,” he says.
He further says that the day would also be used to celebrate achievements of TUCNA in its facilitation role in the unionisation of certain sectors of the economy.
“TUCNA for the last 12 months played a role in assisting the workers that sought help in terms of forming unions and we did it with pride,” says Kavihuha, adding, “May Day has in the past been used to raise issues that later became national topical issues.”
According to Kavihuha, issues such as land were the federation’s topic of the 2012 May Day celebration, as a result the confederation is very happy now, as government responded positively by setting up ministries such as that of land (both urban and rural).
“This is a sign that TUCNA has been pro-active at all times,” he says.
May Day is a celebration of the international labour movement and May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries.