Staff Reporter
“THE Namibian labour market is challenged by inadequate employment opportunities against a growing population of unemployed people especially the youth aged between 15- 34 years. Despite numerous initiatives Government embarked upon since Independence to address the problem, unemployment, or rather underemployment has been persistently on the increase. This situation therefore calls into question whether national employment creation initiatives or strategies are relevant or adequate to address the problems we want to solve. An honest re-evaluation of our work and strategies is crucial.”
The above are the sentiments of the acting executive director, ambassador Balbina Daes Pienaar, on the occasion of the Employment creation retreat of the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation (MLREC).
The ministry’s efforts come at a time when the unemployment rate in the country is on a constant increase.
In 2012, the unemployment rate stood at 27. 4%, and in 2013 it increased to 29. 6%.
Furthermore, findings of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2014, indicate that the unemployment rate reduced slightly to 28. 1 %. However, in 2016 it increased to 34% and in 2018 it reduced slightly to 33.4%.
“When I joined the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation three months ago, the first assignment which I received from the Minister Utoni Nujoma was to make sure that an internal Employment Creation retreat takes place as soon as possible. The Minister indicated to me that Employment Creation is his absolute priority and that a thorough-going and brutally honest review of the Ministry’s work to fulfil its mandate of promoting and coordinating Employment Creation was needed,” Pienaar stated.
She added that the objectives of the retreat are to enhance the understanding of the ministry’s senior and middle management about the elements and dynamics of employment creation and the state of employment creation initiatives in Namibia.
In addition to this, she added that the workshop will clarify and strengthen the Role of MLREC in relation to employment creation, including a review of its programmes. Pienaar stated that the ministry will also maximize employment creation in the short, medium and long term.
“I have come to understand that Employment Creation is a complex permanent project that requires maximum policy coherence, an effective and inclusive Employment Creation Strategy that can overcome structural unemployment, informality, inequality and skills gaps, and strong coordination across Government ministries, public enterprises, the private sector, educational and training institutions, and civil society. This is the context that should inform our discussions during this retreat,” Pienaar said.
Picture for illustrative purposes only.
