Africa-Press – Namibia. Minister of labour, industrial relations and employment creation Utoni Nujoma says the ministry has adjudicated on more than 5 000 labour cases in the past year.
He says he is currently considering the minimum wage commission’s recommendations.
Speaking to Desert Radio, Nujoma said once he has analysed the report, which was submitted by the commission in March this year, he will submit it to the Cabinet for review.
“The Cabinet will have to deliberate, and will then send it to the Ministry of Justice, after which it will go to the parliament.
“If the parliament agrees to it, it will become law,” he said.
When introducing the commission in February last year, Nujoma said the constitutional goal is to achieve a minimum living wage – not a substitute for set wages through collective bargaining between trade unions and employers.
The proposed national minimum wage would apply to all employees except those who are exempted, he said. Nujoma said the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation handled 5 520 labour cases last year, of which just over 1 600 rolled over from the previous financial year. Some N$2,8 million was recovered from employers on behalf of complainants, he said.
The minister said unresolved complaints, which made up 27% of the total number of complaints, were referred to the office of the labour commissioner for reconciliation.
“We try to intervene to prevent reaching a stage where people cannot resolve those matters and then go to court.
“Because once it goes to court it becomes so expensive, and it is also unaffordable for our labour unions to continue to fight these well-established businesses that can afford to hire lawyers,” he said.
The minister highlighted non-compliance as one of the biggest challenges the ministry is faced with, as businesses continue to be reluctant to comply with certain laws.
The ministry continues to urge employers in both the public and private sector to comply with stipulated labour laws, he said.
“When we catch an employer not complying, rationality does not apply to me. It is of critical importance to address regulations,” Nujoma said.
One of the regulations many employers are not complying with is the requirement that an employer who employs 25 employees or more must report vacancies or new positions to the Eemployment Services Bureau of the ministry, he said.
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