CoD leader criticises labour bill

THE new Labour Bill does not leave much room for negotiations between workers and employers, a leader of the opposition has criticised.

Ben Ulenga, President of the opposition Congress of Democrats (CoD), said at the start of the debate last week that his impression was the bill appeared like the result of negotiations between trade unions and a company instead of a new law. “To me it seems as if the Labour Ministry comes in to strengthen the position of weak unions through legislation.We should make sure legislation provides for strong unions and other partners in this field.I don’t like it if unions are weak,” Ulenga said.”Labour unions should not be led by politicians who were in Lubango or Kwanza Sul [in exile in Angola], but from members from shop steward level,” he added.”It is high time that the Swapo party leaves its hands off the labour unions and workers instead of manipulating them politically for its own gains.Labour unions should deal with issues of their members [and not with politics],” Ulenga argued last Wednesday, drawing loud murmurs from the Swapo benches.For example, the bill prescribes five days’ compassionate leave a year, leaving “nothing to talk about for labour unions anymore”, Ulenga added.”Make it rather two days of compassionate leave – the minimum – and let trade unions negotiate for more such leave days in individual companies.This Bill is supposed to be about minimum conditions and not settling issues as if to throw concrete over this issue,” the CoD politician noted.On competitiveness, the CoD President said Namibians were not very productive and not as hardworking as they used to be.”I hear this from fellow Members of Parliament, Government Ministers and the private sector, it is even said the Chinese [in Namibia] work much harder than Namibians.I agree with Mr Harold Pupkewitz, we must work harder, I openly agree with him, not like some other MPs, who only agree with him behind closed doors,” Ulenga concluded his contribution.Veterans’ Affairs Minister Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said he was disappointed that the new Labour Bill did not do away with labour-hire companies.”This is surprising to me, as the Swapo party came about due to exploitation of labourers who suffered under Swanla and other apartheid labour-hire bodies.People make money out of other people’s sweat; this practice should be thrown out and outlawed and not be tolerated at all.”The State should put up its own offices and connect people who look for employment free of charge with companies who seek workers.These offices should be the focal point for people seeking work.Anyone wanting to recruit people should go there and then employ labourers.”Deputy Labour Minister Peter Ilonga informed the House that a bill would be tabled to deal with labour-hire companies.The debate continues this week.”To me it seems as if the Labour Ministry comes in to strengthen the position of weak unions through legislation.We should make sure legislation provides for strong unions and other partners in this field.I don’t like it if unions are weak,” Ulenga said.”Labour unions should not be led by politicians who were in Lubango or Kwanza Sul [in exile in Angola], but from members from shop steward level,” he added.”It is high time that the Swapo party leaves its hands off the labour unions and workers instead of manipulating them politically for its own gains.Labour unions should deal with issues of their members [and not with politics],” Ulenga argued last Wednesday, drawing loud murmurs from the Swapo benches.For example, the bill prescribes five days’ compassionate leave a year, leaving “nothing to talk about for labour unions anymore”, Ulenga added.”Make it rather two days of compassionate leave – the minimum – and let trade unions negotiate for more such leave days in individual companies.This Bill is supposed to be about minimum conditions and not settling issues as if to throw concrete over this issue,” the CoD politician noted.On competitiveness, the CoD President said Namibians were not very productive and not as hardworking as they used to be.”I hear this from fellow Members of Parliament, Government Ministers and the private sector, it is even said the Chinese [in Namibia] work much harder than Namibians.I agree with Mr Harold Pupkewitz, we must work harder, I openly agree with him, not like some other MPs, who only agree with him behind closed doors,” Ulenga concluded his contribution.Veterans’ Affairs Minister Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said he was disappointed that the new Labour Bill did not do away with labour-hire companies.”This is surprising to me, as the Swapo party came about due to exploitation of labourers who suffered under Swanla and other apartheid labour-hire bodies.People make money out of other people’s sweat; this practice should be thrown out and outlawed and not be tolerated at all.”The State should put up its own offices and connect people who look for employment free of charge with companies who seek workers.These offices should be the focal point for people seeking work.Anyone wanting to recruit people should go there and then employ labourers.”Deputy Labour Minister Peter Ilonga informed the House that a bill would be tabled to deal with labour-hire companies.The debate continues this week.