8 881 workers dismissed by 607 businesses
A total of 8 881 workers were dismissed by 607 businesses during the first two quarters of the 2020/21 financial year, from April to September, which represents an increase of more than nine times compared to 2019. Last year’s dismissals over the same period amounted to 950 workers from 142 companies.
Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation, Utoni Nujoma revealed these figures yesterday at the inauguration of the Labour Commissioner’s building in Khomasdal. Nujoma also noted that the office of the labour commissioner received 2 631-dispute referrals during the first two quarters of the financial year as compared to 2 640 for the same period last year.
The labour minister continued that during the major part of this year, the labour and employment sector went through a difficult time of an economic downturn due to Covid-19, resulting in countless workers losing their jobs and income while businesses struggled to remain operational and profitable.
According to Nujoma, the completion and inauguration of the Labour Commissioner’s building is considered a milestone in facilitating effective and efficient labour
dispute resolutions to achieve the vision of harmonious labour relations. The new building represents phase one of the labour ministry’s head office.
This first phase was completed in 2016 and it consists of 45 offices and 24 boardrooms and caucus rooms, a conference facility, a strong room, a library, a cafeteria, and ample parking.
Nujoma continued that the labour and employment sector faces critical challenges relating to job insecurity, income reduction, and business decline as a result of the pandemic.
“Covid-19 has now re-directed our way of delivering government services, including the need to embrace the fourth industrial revolution, as it comes with some solutions to some of our new normal problems. Covid-19 further cemented the notion that the future of business enterprises and the future of employment are inseparable,” stated Nujoma.
He added that it is now time for workers, employers, and government to work together in new ways to achieve an employmentcentred national recovery towards achieving the nation’s Vision 2030.
The labour commissioner exercises oversight and implements mandatory alternative dispute resolution systems under the Labour Act, namely mediation, conciliation, and arbitration. It further manages collective labour relations through registration of industrial organisations as well as monitoring industrial action and reporting on collective termination of employment or retrenchments.
According to Nujoma, the major objective of the government is to enhance accessibility to services to make sure that no one should feel left out. He said it is also essential that the public and other stakeholders remain informed about services and institutions that render such services.
“The services of the labour commissioner are available throughout the country where a regional office of this ministry exists,” Nujoma pointed out.
-mndjavera@nepc.com.na