The Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation, Utoni Nujoma, says there is much that can be done to strengthen the relationship between the government and the trade unions. 

Nujoma says he intends to invite trade union leaders to meet in the near future to brief each other and explore concrete ways to support trade union priorities.

He said that as social partners, they must continue to prioritise issues such as fair wages, decent working hours, working conditions, and access to training and education. 

The Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation, Utoni Nujoma, has outlined the vital issues within the Namibian labour market that need to be addressed, such as youth unemployment.

Speaking at the Fourth Employment Services Board, Nujoma touched on the crucial role of shaping policies and strategies to promote employment creation and ensure compliance with labour laws.

The government is still seized by the plight of a group of fishermen who lost their jobs in 2015 after a strike. 

Through another Cabinet directive, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, together with the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation, has been tasked with securing employment opportunities for these jobless workers. 

The workers lost their employment after the fishing quotas of some major employers, such as Namsov, were drastically reduced.

Namibia has introduced the National Coordination Mechanism on Decent Work in the fisheries sector.

The mechanism is a body that will ensure that there is social and labour compliance in the fishing industry.

Namibia ratified the International Labour Organisation's Work in Fishing Convention 188, which requires member states to set up a coordination mechanism to implement it.

The mechanism has 17 members from the government, labour unions, and employers.

The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation has launched an investigation into alleged unlawful practices at the Rani Group of Companies.

In a statement, the ministry says a recent labour dispute led to an unauthorised strike and subsequent suspension of workers, echoing a similar incident earlier this year in Rundu.

While the Ministry has yet to verify these allegations through an official investigation, it has issued a cautionary statement to both employees and employers.

The need to make paternity leave part of the legal framework has received support from some Members of Parliament in the National Assembly, as has the extension of maternity leave.

The motion to extend maternity leave and introduce paternity leave was earlier tabled by the Popular Democratic Movement's (PDM) Winnie Moongo.

Landless People's Movement (LPM) Leader Bernadus Swartbooi and PDM's Maximalliant Katjimune also made their contributions to the discussion.

The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation is developing a national employment policy.

This was the response of Minister Utoni Nujoma to a question by Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) MP Kennedy Shekupakela about the ministry's plan to address youth unemployment in the country. The policy will help the government and unemployed graduates have proper coordination for employment creation.

In cooperation with the UN in Namibia, the Bank of Namibia, the Ministries of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment Creation, Industrialization, and Trade intend to conduct a study to comprehend the informal economy and its diversity, pinpoint solutions for related problems, and highlight opportunities for interventions.

Informal employment in Namibia has significant implications for people, enterprises, and the country's economy and social development.

The Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment and Creation, Utoni Nujoma, urged social partners to improve the working environment, thereby enhancing employee well-being, high labour productivity, and healthier labour relations.

Utoni Nujoma said this at a two-day meeting on Variation and Sensitization in Fishing and Convention 190 with various stakeholders in the fisheries sector at Walvis Bay.

Acting Executive Director in the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation, Advocate Otniel Podewiltz, has emphasised the significant role that the Labour Advisory Council (LAC) plays in the context of social dialogue and tripartism.

Advocate Podewiltz said this at the 15th LAC inauguration in Windhoek.

Advocate Otniel Podewiltz noted that the ministry views the council as a vital labour market institution and an important consensus-building structure.