Labour Comm. to Target Issue of Understudies - by Irene !Hoaës
Related Stories
Font Size
19 May 2009
WINDHOEK - Combating money laundering has been made easier following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Bank of Namibi...
Ndaitwah Makes Clarion Call for Green Revolution
19 May 2009
WINDHOEK - Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has said there is need to provide leadership for the world to increase ag...
Bucket Toilets Are No More in Aranos
19 May 2009
WINDHOEK - The village of Aranos in the Hardap Region no longer has the bucket toilet system, unlike other village councils like Gibeon in t...
Labour Comm. to Target Issue of Understudies
19 May 2009
WINDHOEK - The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare says top positions in many Namibian workplaces, especially in the private sector, still...
FNB Donates to Charity
19 May 2009
WINDHOEK - First National Bank is continuing with its spirit of giving campaign. This year, the bank gave N$100Â 000 to various charitable...
Shot in the Arm for OEWENA
19 May 2009
BAGANI - Namibia's First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba was stunned when organisers of the OEWENA Namibia River Challenge on Friday handed over a c...
Farmers' Relocation from Disputed Land Begins
19 May 2009
OSHAKATI - There is hope for hundreds of communal farmers ordered to vacate the hotly disputed Uukwangali area in Kavango who have started m...
Kanime to Defend Fraud Charges
19 May 2009
WINDHOEK - Erstwhile Director of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Phillemon Kanime, yesterday revealed to New Era that he intends ...
WINDHOEK - The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare says top positions in many Namibian workplaces, especially in the private sector, still reflect gender and racial inequities as inherited from the previous dispensation.
The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Petrus Ilonga, however acknowledged that some progress has been made.
"Relevant employers must understand clearly that the more they pay lip service to affirmative action, the longer the affirmative action legislation will remain in force," Ilonga who represented the minister at the inauguration of the fourth Employment Equity Commissioners said yesterday.
He said if the current inequities were rectified, the affirmative action law will become irrelevant and will thus be repealed.
"However, as matters stand now, the affirmative action law would have to remain until the desired results are achieved," Ilonga warned.
The Affirmative Action (Employment) Act requires relevant employers employing non-Namibians to ensure that a Namibian is appointed as an understudy for every non-Namibian employed.
The practice is done to transfer skills to Namibian understudies.
"There is however, sufficient evidence to suggest that quite a number of relevant employers have not lived up to the letter and spirit of the provisions on understudies," the deputy minister added.
Ilonga noted that even if understudies were appointed, he has information that there is a general lack of goodwill on the part of employers to ensure that serious training is provided to the understudies.
Ilonga also lashed out at previous Employment Equity Commissioners who allegedly betrayed the trust of their appointing authorities, as they were frequently absent from meetings or left meetings earlier than when they were supposed to leave.
"If there is anyone here who intends to behave in this manner, I want to make it abundantly clear that you are better advised to quit before you are asked to do so," Ilonga warned the new commissioners.
He said the commission should take speedy and appropriate action against those employers who resist change in terms of the law.
The core objective of the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act is to achieve equity and equality and to ensure the elimination of employment barriers against persons in designated groups so that no person shall be denied employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability.
The newly inaugurated commission comprises of representatives of the State, workers, women, persons living with disabilities and the previously racially disadvantaged.
The term of the office is three years, while that of the chairperson is five years.
The new commissioners are Hertha Pomuti, Chief Vocational Education Officer at NIED, Elizabeth Gideon, Local Councillor at the Otjozondjupa Regional Council, Gerson Mutendere and Henny Olman from the National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia, Mike Hill and Faustino Paulo from the Namibia Employer Federation, Liezl Davis and Ratonda Katjikua representing the Chamber of Mines, Ujama Kaahangoro from the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA), Joyce Mukubi and Morimunu Kavitjene from the Office of the Prime Minister, Hiltraut Hubsch-Karigus from the Congress of Democrats (CoD), Albuis Mwiya and Tangeni Haitula from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Moses Shikwa from the National Union of Namibian Workers, Mildred Jantjies representing Swapo, Rosalia Ndakola and Uapewa Ueitele representing women.
Back to Top
The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Petrus Ilonga, however acknowledged that some progress has been made.
"Relevant employers must understand clearly that the more they pay lip service to affirmative action, the longer the affirmative action legislation will remain in force," Ilonga who represented the minister at the inauguration of the fourth Employment Equity Commissioners said yesterday.
He said if the current inequities were rectified, the affirmative action law will become irrelevant and will thus be repealed.
"However, as matters stand now, the affirmative action law would have to remain until the desired results are achieved," Ilonga warned.
The Affirmative Action (Employment) Act requires relevant employers employing non-Namibians to ensure that a Namibian is appointed as an understudy for every non-Namibian employed.
The practice is done to transfer skills to Namibian understudies.
"There is however, sufficient evidence to suggest that quite a number of relevant employers have not lived up to the letter and spirit of the provisions on understudies," the deputy minister added.
Ilonga noted that even if understudies were appointed, he has information that there is a general lack of goodwill on the part of employers to ensure that serious training is provided to the understudies.
Ilonga also lashed out at previous Employment Equity Commissioners who allegedly betrayed the trust of their appointing authorities, as they were frequently absent from meetings or left meetings earlier than when they were supposed to leave.
"If there is anyone here who intends to behave in this manner, I want to make it abundantly clear that you are better advised to quit before you are asked to do so," Ilonga warned the new commissioners.
He said the commission should take speedy and appropriate action against those employers who resist change in terms of the law.
The core objective of the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act is to achieve equity and equality and to ensure the elimination of employment barriers against persons in designated groups so that no person shall be denied employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability.
The newly inaugurated commission comprises of representatives of the State, workers, women, persons living with disabilities and the previously racially disadvantaged.
The term of the office is three years, while that of the chairperson is five years.
The new commissioners are Hertha Pomuti, Chief Vocational Education Officer at NIED, Elizabeth Gideon, Local Councillor at the Otjozondjupa Regional Council, Gerson Mutendere and Henny Olman from the National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia, Mike Hill and Faustino Paulo from the Namibia Employer Federation, Liezl Davis and Ratonda Katjikua representing the Chamber of Mines, Ujama Kaahangoro from the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA), Joyce Mukubi and Morimunu Kavitjene from the Office of the Prime Minister, Hiltraut Hubsch-Karigus from the Congress of Democrats (CoD), Albuis Mwiya and Tangeni Haitula from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Moses Shikwa from the National Union of Namibian Workers, Mildred Jantjies representing Swapo, Rosalia Ndakola and Uapewa Ueitele representing women.
Back to Top
Copyright 2008 ©New Era Publications . All rights reserved.| Site Designed and Hosted by Omalaeti Technologies | Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Contact Us
