Labour ministry needs N$51 million to ensure good labour relations

WINDHOEK, 19Apr – The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation needs N$ 51 million, in addition to appropriate human resources and tools, in order to enforce labour laws and ensure compliance.
This was said by Minister Erkki Nghimtina, in his budget motivation speech in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
In particular, he mentioned the labour dispute resolution mechanism as one of the programmes which requires funding, adding that it is an appropriate vehicle to resolve labour conflicts in the country.
“This formal court system alternative is functional and is gaining recognition and appreciation from its users and can now be used by employees and SMEs without the assistance of a lawyer,” said Nghimtina.
According to the minister, this system, which will require more than N$ 20 million to improve and maintain, can be used to access justice and fairness and offers relatively fast finality to workplace labour disputes.
Nghimtina further noted that his ministry also carried out combined inspections totalling 2 132, comprising of both occupational safety and health aspects and workplace labour inspection.
“Some workplaces were found in compliance and others moderately so, while the rest failed the inspection test, resulting in the issuance of compliance orders for them to comply within a prescribed time.”
The ministry however remains steadfast and focused to fulfil its mandate to promote compliance with and enforcement of laws with the resources and tools at its disposal, he said.
NAMPA