We cannot do it alone – Geingob on unemployment

President Hage Geingob is pleading with the private sector to help create jobs.

Geingob said this in a statement issued on Sunday, ahead of Workers’ Day on Monday.

“Yes, the government will continue to create a conducive environment for jobs to be created,” the president said. “But to succeed in that endeavour, the private sector must be a major driving force in reducing unemployment, which is an important pillar in the fight against poverty.”

The country’s unemployment rate is estimated to be above 40%.
Geingob cautioned that Namibians must guard against any issue that could threaten peace, and that the peace and stability that the country enjoys should at no point be taken for granted.

“The government remains conscious of the fact that unemployment disproportionately affects the youth and the unskilled. The government cannot do it alone,” he said.

The president said Workers’ Day is a fitting occasion for Namibia to pay tribute to trade unionists who advocated the recognition of labour rights and whose activism laid the foundation for a just and inclusive Namibia.

“May Day is also a fitting occasion for us to hold hands and remind ourselves about the efforts we should undertake to improve, through hard work, the living conditions of each and every Namibian,” he added.

Recently, activists have staged protests against youth unemployment and bad working conditions.
Workers especially in the mining and trade industries are still faced with bad working conditions and minimal salaries.
Geingob further told workers to prepare for the future of the technological revolution.

“I urge the private sector and trade unions to accompany the Namibian government in preparing workers for the future of work,” the president said.

He continued that he also wants stakeholders to engage in good faith in collective bargaining, saying this will mitigate the impact of the economic downturn on workers, and that labour disputes must at all times be resolved in a spirit that advances the interests of Namibia.

“Through the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, the government will continue to play its part by paying special attention to occupational diseases, hazards, hygiene at the workplace and life-threatening health issues that may affect the quality and conditions of Namibian workers,” Geingob said.