NA to tackle key legislation on children, labour issues

THE National Assembly officially got down to business on Tuesday afternoon, albeit for a short session that lasted for little more than half an hour.

Opposition party parliamentarians took the chance to pepper Government with questions on national issues, while several Ministers gave notice of new bills they intend to table. Today, Labour Minister Marco Hausiku will unveil the long-awaited revamped Labour Bill.Most provisions related to rights in the workplace, unfair labour practices, regulation of trade unions and the resolution of disputes in the current Act have been revised.One of the major changes the bill proposes is a conciliation and arbitration system before disputes head to the District Labour Courts While the House was mostly quiet during proceedings, and MPs busied themselves paging through new reports and documents which were delivered to their desks, there was applause all round when Minister of Women and Child Welfare, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, informed lawmakers that they would be expected to deliberate on the Children’s Status Bill.The Bill seeks equal treatment for all children regardless of whether they are born in or out of wedlock.Other Bills scheduled to be tabled this week are amendments to and the repeal of certain provisions of the more than 50-year-old Merchant Shipping Act, and an amendment to the Bank of Namibia Act of 1997 to, among others, clarify its financial relationship with Government.During question time next week, Minister of Basic Education John Mutorwa will be expected to answer numerous questions posed by CoD member Elizabeth Amukugo on the alleged lack of places for first-time schoolgoers.Amukugo also expressed concern about the number of drop-outs as a result of students not being allowed to repeat Grade 10.CoD whip Nora Schimming-Chase took issue with the Police Special Field Force.She wants to know from the Home Affairs Ministry what disciplinary action is being taken in incidents where SFF members have been accused of unfairly attacking members of public.She requested that the SFF’s powers and responsibilities be clearly spelled out to the public.Schimming-Chase once again raised the sluggishness of the Auditor General’s accounting system – her questions on the matter went unanswered last year.She said the Public Accounts Committee was not exercising its oversight function of the national Budget to the fullest, because it was only now revising central Government Accounts for 1999.”How can Parliament recommend any corrective action with regard to discrepancies that have occurred years ago?” she wants to know from Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.At the request of Schimming-Chase, the Prime Minister is also expected to provide details on recent presidential commission of enquiries into mismanagement at several public institutions.CoD leader Ben Ulenga described Government’s stance on the Nepad peer review mechanism as “blowing hot and cold”, and asked that Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya clarify the country’s position.Today, Labour Minister Marco Hausiku will unveil the long-awaited revamped Labour Bill. Most provisions related to rights in the workplace, unfair labour practices, regulation of trade unions and the resolution of disputes in the current Act have been revised. One of the major changes the bill proposes is a conciliation and arbitration system before disputes head to the District Labour Courts While the House was mostly quiet during proceedings, and MPs busied themselves paging through new reports and documents which were delivered to their desks, there was applause all round when Minister of Women and Child Welfare, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, informed lawmakers that they would be expected to deliberate on the Children’s Status Bill. The Bill seeks equal treatment for all children regardless of whether they are born in or out of wedlock. Other Bills scheduled to be tabled this week are amendments to and the repeal of certain provisions of the more than 50-year-old Merchant Shipping Act, and an amendment to the Bank of Namibia Act of 1997 to, among others, clarify its financial relationship with Government. During question time next week, Minister of Basic Education John Mutorwa will be expected to answer numerous questions posed by CoD member Elizabeth Amukugo on the alleged lack of places for first-time schoolgoers. Amukugo also expressed concern about the number of drop-outs as a result of students not being allowed to repeat Grade 10. CoD whip Nora Schimming-Chase took issue with the Police Special Field Force. She wants to know from the Home Affairs Ministry what disciplinary action is being taken in incidents where SFF members have been accused of unfairly attacking members of public. She requested that the SFF’s powers and responsibilities be clearly spelled out to the public. Schimming-Chase once again raised the sluggishness of the Auditor General’s accounting system – her questions on the matter went unanswered last year. She said the Public Accounts Committee was not exercising its oversight function of the national Budget to the fullest, because it was only now revising central Government Accounts for 1999. “How can Parliament recommend any corrective action with regard to discrepancies that have occurred years ago?” she wants to know from Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. At the request of Schimming-Chase, the Prime Minister is also expected to provide details on recent presidential commission of enquiries into mismanagement at several public institutions. CoD leader Ben Ulenga described Government’s stance on the Nepad peer review mechanism as “blowing hot and cold”, and asked that Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya clarify the country’s position.