The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has appealed to financial institutions to provide low-income earners with loans to build houses.

Uutoni was speaking at the handover of serviced plots at the MTC Land Delivery Ground-breaking Ceremony at Okakarara.

Although all citizens have the right to decent shelter, the unaffordability of houses for the majority remains a concern.

This has resulted in more than 25% of the population living in shacks, a figure that continues to grow rapidly.

The Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA) has also called on MTC Namibia to give permanent employment to those who have been working on contract for years at the call centres.

The union says it has received several complaints from MTC's contract workers at the call centre.

Some employees have allegedly been on contract for more than five years.

This, TUCNA president Mahongora Kavihuha says, contravenes the provisions of the Labour Act.