Africa-Press – Namibia. While many young people are subjected to unpaid internships, underpayment or exploitation, the government has moved swiftly to arrest the situation.
Recently, Namibia moved and took a leap toward addressing youth unemployment and the persistent mismatch between education and industry with the launch of the National Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Policy 2025–2030.
Launching the policy in Windhoek, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare emphasised that WIL is not a new concept but one that must now be strengthened and adapted to modern realities.
“Learning through work is not a new idea. Over the ages it was common practice for young people to be apprentices to a master craftsman, noting that such approaches have long been embedded in professions like teaching, nursing and medicine,” Ngurare said.
Despite Namibia’s consistent investment in education since independence, challenges remain. “Many graduates continue to face challenges in transitioning from the classroom to the workplace,” Ngurare said, highlighting concerns from employers about a lack of practical skills and workplace readiness.
Ngurare further stressed that implementation will be key, cautioning against policies that fail to translate into action.
He then jokingly proposed the creation of “faculties of common sense”.
“Maybe we need the faculty of common sense, a dean of common sense, a professor of common sense,” he said, urging stakeholders to move beyond theory and focus on realistic, workable solutions. “If we bring it to our context, it must be commensurate with our realities; we cannot simply copy and paste,” he said.
He also criticised inefficiencies within government systems, warning against silo-based operations that slow down service delivery. “When we speak of work-integrated learning, it must not be in silos,” he said.
The prime minister also challenged employers to rethink rigid requirements that exclude young graduates. “You see graduations on weekends, and then next Monday they are asked for five years’ experience. Where will they get that from?” he questioned.
Ultimately, Ngurare framed the WIL policy as a pathway to national development and youth empowerment. “If we are serious about building a peaceful and prosperous Namibia, we must create clearer pathways from education to employment,” he said.
Lived realities
As the premier launch of the WIL policy, the continued reliance on unpaid internships in Namibia has sparked debate over whether the practice provides valuable experience for students or unfairly exploits young professionals entering the workforce.
Internships are widely seen as a crucial stepping stone for students and graduates seeking to gain practical skills and workplace exposure. However, concerns are mounting that unpaid placements can create financial barriers and unequal opportunities for those who cannot afford to work without compensation. According to the Ministry of Labour, labour hire practices were previously banned under Section 128 of the Labour Act of 2007.
The ban was later overturned following a Supreme Court ruling in 2009 in a case brought by Africa Personnel Services, which argued that the prohibition violated the constitutional right to conduct business. The court ruled that an outright ban was unconstitutional but emphasised the need for proper regulation to protect workers.
Despite these regulations, concerns about unpaid internships continue to surface, particularly among students and graduates seeking entry into professional industries.
At the Namibia University of Science and Technology, WIL industry liaison coordinator Khumalo Kapelwa said unpaid internships remain a contentious issue that often involves a trade-off between gaining professional experience and the risk of economic exploitation.
“Some view unpaid internships as an opportunity to gain networking connections and practical experience, while others argue that any work that creates value for an organisation deserves fair compensation,” Kapelwa said. He added that unpaid internships can significantly affect students and graduates by creating financial barriers that limit access to opportunities.
“Many students cannot afford to work without a pay cheque because unpaid roles often require them to cover costs such as transport, accommodation and professional attire,” he explained.
Kapelwa also pointed out that research suggests paid interns are more likely to receive job offers and better starting salaries compared to those who complete unpaid placements.
From an employer’s perspective, Kapelwa said some organisations choose not to pay interns due to financial constraints or because they view internships primarily as training opportunities. “Small businesses, startups and non-profit organisations often lack the resources to pay interns and may see internships as a way to provide learning opportunities while receiving limited assistance with basic tasks,” he said.
However, there is growing global support for policies that require organisations to compensate interns. Kapelwa said mandatory pay could help ensure that internship opportunities remain accessible to talented individuals regardless of their financial background.
For some students, the opportunity to gain experience outweighs the lack of financial compensation. One student who completed an internship at the Office of the Master of the High Court said she accepted the position primarily to gain exposure to the legal profession.
“I wanted to gain practical experience and understand how legal processes work in practice,” said the intern, who asked to remain anonymous. During the internship, the student assisted with administrative processes involving estates and trusts and gained experience reviewing legal documents and managing records.
The student described the experience as professionally valuable but experienced sexual harassment from another intern and a staff member during the placement and reported the matter. “Unfortunately, the concerns were not adequately addressed, which made the work environment difficult,” the student said.
Additionally, interns were sometimes given responsibilities that went beyond typical internship expectations.
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