The Minister of Justice and Labour Relations, Wise Immanuel, has acknowledged serious labour compliance challenges in Namibia's charcoal industry.

Immanuel pointed out informal employment arrangements, unregistered businesses and difficulties identifying and tracing employers.

Most retail outlets in the Ohangwena Region are in breach of the Labour Act, particularly the national minimum wage regulations.

This emerged during an oversight visit by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Poverty Eradication, Labour and Industrial Relations.