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.

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 Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation said one of the mandates of his ministry is to ensure that workers are paid a living wage to maintain a decent living standard.

Utoni Nujoma said this at the Cabinet Committee briefing at the Government Information Centre in Windhoek, where he highlighted some of the important activities the ministry has been engaged in.

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.

Namibia has identified a number of entry points through which strategic national objectives related to job creation, economic development, and social protection can be attained.

The entry points include greater coordination of employment creation under the auspices of the "whole of government’’ approach, commitment to facilitate the expansion of social protection coverage, and commitment to youth employment and entrepreneurship.

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.

The Social Security Commission of Namibia (SCC) terminated the post-retirement medical aid benefit for its employees in 2021.

The Commission found the benefit to be costly and unsustainable.

After engaging Octagon Actuaries & Consultants, the Commission was advised on four options, of which 92% of employees chose a cash payout of accrued benefits.

The Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation, Utoni Nujoma, has added his voice to a motion in the National Assembly for the establishment of a Genocide Memorial Museum to honor victims of the 1904-08 Herero-Nama genocide.

He however pleaded with his fellow MPs to have unity in mind when they debate this important motion.