Over 2 000 labour inspections conducted
The labour ministry carried out a total of 2 132 inspections during the 2017/18 financial year.
This included 1 116 occupational safety and health inspections, as well as 1 016 workplace labour inspections.
Labour minister Erkki Nghimtina during his budget motivation in the National Assembly last week said compliance with and the enforcement of laws have both proven to be the biggest hindrance to full implementation.
“Some workplaces were found in compliance, others moderately so, while the rest failed the inspection test,” said Nghimtina.
He said this resulted in orders for them to comply within a prescribed time and the ministry conducted periodic follow-ups to ensure compliance.
According to Nghimtina, to enforce the law and ensure compliance requires enormous human and financial resources, appropriate tools and equipment particularly to reach employers and employees in all corners of the country.
“The ministry remains steadfast and focused to fulfil its mandate to promote compliance and to enforce the law, with whatever resources and tools at its disposal.”
He said this will be done through proactive and reactive inspections and targeted investigations at workplaces.
To carry out these activities, N$51.2 million is required.
Nghimtina further said the labour relations in Namibia remains one of the most stable in SADC.
He attributed this to the commitment of the ministry and its social partners to social dialogue, as well as the collective bargaining processes.
According to him this is hinged on accessible, affordable, simple and a relatively speedy system of alternative dispute prevention and resolution.
“This is done through labour inspections, conciliation and arbitration processes.”
Furthermore Nghimtina said the alternative labour dispute resolution mechanism, introduced ten years ago, as an appropriate vehicle to resolve labour conflicts in the country, is functional and gaining recognition among users.
“This is an alternative to the formal court system,” he said.
The minister explained that ordinary employees as well as SMEs are able to access justice and a relatively fast finality to their workplace labour disputes without the assistance of a lawyer.
In order to improve and maintain this system, N$23.2 million is required.
ELLANIE SMIT
This included 1 116 occupational safety and health inspections, as well as 1 016 workplace labour inspections.
Labour minister Erkki Nghimtina during his budget motivation in the National Assembly last week said compliance with and the enforcement of laws have both proven to be the biggest hindrance to full implementation.
“Some workplaces were found in compliance, others moderately so, while the rest failed the inspection test,” said Nghimtina.
He said this resulted in orders for them to comply within a prescribed time and the ministry conducted periodic follow-ups to ensure compliance.
According to Nghimtina, to enforce the law and ensure compliance requires enormous human and financial resources, appropriate tools and equipment particularly to reach employers and employees in all corners of the country.
“The ministry remains steadfast and focused to fulfil its mandate to promote compliance and to enforce the law, with whatever resources and tools at its disposal.”
He said this will be done through proactive and reactive inspections and targeted investigations at workplaces.
To carry out these activities, N$51.2 million is required.
Nghimtina further said the labour relations in Namibia remains one of the most stable in SADC.
He attributed this to the commitment of the ministry and its social partners to social dialogue, as well as the collective bargaining processes.
According to him this is hinged on accessible, affordable, simple and a relatively speedy system of alternative dispute prevention and resolution.
“This is done through labour inspections, conciliation and arbitration processes.”
Furthermore Nghimtina said the alternative labour dispute resolution mechanism, introduced ten years ago, as an appropriate vehicle to resolve labour conflicts in the country, is functional and gaining recognition among users.
“This is an alternative to the formal court system,” he said.
The minister explained that ordinary employees as well as SMEs are able to access justice and a relatively fast finality to their workplace labour disputes without the assistance of a lawyer.
In order to improve and maintain this system, N$23.2 million is required.
ELLANIE SMIT
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