Youth unemployment plagues Nujoma

NAMPAWINDHOEKThe alarmingly high structural unemployment in Namibia, especially amongst young people, demands bold and targeted solutions. A new approach to employment creation is also required to start employment-centred planning, investment and budgeting. These were the remarks of labour minister Utoni Nujoma on Thursday when he delivered a speech to defend his ministry's 2020/2021 annual budget in Parliament. He said robust employment creation across ministries, the private sector, public enterprises, and support for sustainable enterprises will be required in order to achieve such national goals. But first, the methodology of an employment impact assessment must be introduced with employment-creation coordination structures, which must be established as matters of top priority, he added.Integral partHe said an integral part of the coordination process would be to ensure that every Namibian youth is guaranteed education, training or apprenticeships that will lead to employment in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. According to him, the ministry is committed to achieving these goals as part of a coordinated national strategy. “The coronavirus state of emergency has highlighted the importance of social dialogue and collective bargaining as the means to mitigate economic shocks affecting workers and employers to prevent, manage and resolve labour disputes. “If we want to achieve our national vision of a peaceful and prosperous nation, we cannot afford industrial conflict and must address the plight of the workers and employers affected by the lockdown,” he said. Nujoma also said the ministry is committed to strengthening tripartite dialogue with government's social partners like trade unions, employers' organisations and other stakeholders in order to manage conflict and to find solutions to daunting challenges based on national and mutual interest.

Youth unemployment plagues Nujoma

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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Youth unemployment plagues Nujoma

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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