The Employment Equity Commission (EEC) has concluded another session of its review panel hearing in Windhoek.
Out of 11 hearings, four cases were successful and granted compliance certificates, while seven cases were unsuccessful with final orders issued disapproving the affirmative action reports.
The Review Panel Hearing comprised Employment Equity Commissioners, Heads of institutions, Chairpersons of Affirmative Action Committees, and Review Officers, who appeared before the Panel to present evidence and respond to issues identified during the review of their respective affirmative action reports.
In a press statement, the EEC says the Review Panel granted compliance certificates to Bon Okapuka Crusher CC, Benz Building Supplies, Nkasa Security Services CC and Tristone Business Trust.
The seven unsuccessful cases include Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority; Oshakati Town Council; NovaNam Group; City Lodge Hotels Namibia; Town Lodge Windhoek; Nutam Operations; AB InBev Namibia; and Outapi Town Council.
The Review Panel found that the disapproved reports did not meet the requirements of the Act due to one or more compliance shortcomings identified during the hearings.
The Commission emphasises that the requirements are not procedural formalities but fundamental obligations intended to ensure meaningful implementation of affirmative action measures and to promote equal employment opportunities in Namibia.
Where an employer's affirmative action report is disapproved by the review panel, the employer is regarded as having failed to comply with the Act.
Such an employer, the commission says, commits an offence and, upon conviction by a competent court, may be liable to a fine, imprisonment, or both a fine and imprisonment, as provided for in the legislation.
The commission, therefore, encourages all relevant employers to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Act, establish and maintain functional Affirmative Action Committees, consult employees throughout the affirmative action process, implement effective skills transfer initiatives, and promptly address shortcomings identified by the commission.