Employers’ group cosies up to Chinese businesses

THE Namibian Employers’ Association (NEA) has acquired a new member in the form of the Namibia Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which has been granted associate membership.

Members of the Chinese Chamber are advised to join the NEA in their individual capacity, the organisation said in a recent statement. The announcement comes just ahead of the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is expected in Namibia on February 5 and 6.The NEA is a different to the Namibia Employers’ Federation (NEF).”We are aware of certain criticism levelled against our Chinese business partners,” NEA Secretary General Eric Lueff said in the statement.”Most of this criticism is born out of self-interest.The Chinese are welcome in our country as they made no small contribution to our liberation struggle and final success,” Lueff said.The NEA was committed in term of its statutory obligations to serve the interests of the new Chinese members, he added.Their presence in Namibia provided a “catalyst for capital, skills and know how investment”, Lueff said.”China has a vast resource of these essential requirements for economic growth in a diverse economy.Namibia is in dire need of the establishment of new industries, mining ventures and value-adding efforts.”The NEA and the Namibia Chinese Chamber of Commerce would thus work closely with the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, Government and local businesses to bring in new skills, technology and “new methods” that would stimulate and strengthen Namibia’s economic growth, according to Lueff.At the same time, the NEA would assist Chinese counterparts in “settling in their new country of choice”.Another part of the co-operation with Chinese businesses in Namibia would be to provide them with training on Namibian labour issues, since that related to Namibian laws, culture, values and norms.English language courses and communication skills were also planned, the NEA said.Some Chinese businesses operating in Namibia, especially in the construction sector, have repeatedly come under criticism for paying low wages and submitting quotes for Government tenders way below cost margins.Several Namibian construction companies have had to close down, as they did not win tenders any more.The announcement comes just ahead of the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is expected in Namibia on February 5 and 6.The NEA is a different to the Namibia Employers’ Federation (NEF).”We are aware of certain criticism levelled against our Chinese business partners,” NEA Secretary General Eric Lueff said in the statement.”Most of this criticism is born out of self-interest.The Chinese are welcome in our country as they made no small contribution to our liberation struggle and final success,” Lueff said.The NEA was committed in term of its statutory obligations to serve the interests of the new Chinese members, he added.Their presence in Namibia provided a “catalyst for capital, skills and know how investment”, Lueff said.”China has a vast resource of these essential requirements for economic growth in a diverse economy.Namibia is in dire need of the establishment of new industries, mining ventures and value-adding efforts.”The NEA and the Namibia Chinese Chamber of Commerce would thus work closely with the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, Government and local businesses to bring in new skills, technology and “new methods” that would stimulate and strengthen Namibia’s economic growth, according to Lueff.At the same time, the NEA would assist Chinese counterparts in “settling in their new country of choice”.Another part of the co-operation with Chinese businesses in Namibia would be to provide them with training on Namibian labour issues, since that related to Namibian laws, culture, values and norms.English language courses and communication skills were also planned, the NEA said.Some Chinese businesses operating in Namibia, especially in the construction sector, have repeatedly come under criticism for paying low wages and submitting quotes for Government tenders way below cost margins.Several Namibian construction companies have had to close down, as they did not win tenders any more.