General minimum wage ‘impossible’

LABOUR Minister Marco Hausiku has ruled out a universal minimum wage in Namibia, saying at this stage it would be “unattainable.”

Responding to input on debate on the issue in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Hausiku said an across-the-board minimum wage was not possible because of the diversity of the economic sectors and their different levels of performance. Instead, he said, his Ministry was encouraging the introduction of sectoral minimum wages, as had been introduced in the farming sector.The new Labour Bill, which was passed on Thursday, is set to replace the current Act, which became law in 1992.The most significant change is the way in which the labour industry deals with the prevention and resolution of disputes.It also makes amendments to sections related to maternity leave, collective bargaining, child labour and hours of work.Responding to comments from MPs on the Bill, which was introduced to the House in February, Hausiku said he failed to understand why the DTA had registered so many objections to the Bill when it had been drawn up through joint consultation between parliamentarians, unions and employers.The Minister said the Bill had been stalled for too long after it was decided almost eight years ago that it be revised and simplified.”You are not the only one, but there are also representatives from the union who want us to return [to discussions].No we will not allow it.We can’t do that,” he told the DTA’s Johan de Waal, the last MP to contribute to the debate.Hausiku said he would be embarrassed to return to a session of the International Labour Organisation later this year without being able to report progress on the passing of a new labour law.In concluding the second reading debate on the Bill, Hausiku mostly clarified issues queried by ruling party MPs on matters related to dispute resolution, contract labour, trade union fees, working hours and leave periods.Following a call from Home Affairs Deputy Minister Loide Kasingo and the Congress of Democrats’ Elizabeth Amakugo for paternity leave to be considered, Hausiku said while the proposal was “good and interesting”, it had to be dealt with taking into account the country’s economic performance.”The principle of paternity leave is well understood but the … impact of such a right appears to heavily outweigh its benefits at this point … and under the … prevailing circumstances that characterise the socio-economic structure and performance of Namibia,” said Hausiku.He said lawmakers would also have to decide whether this provision would be confined to married couples, partners or any relationship that bears a child.”What about if a man fathers more than one child in a year with different women?” he questioned.Hausiku also touched on reports of discrimination against employees who were HIV-AIDS infected.While this was prohibited under the National Code on HIV-AIDS and Employment, there were serious questions that required that the infected were not unnecessarily subjected to too demanding working conditions.”Is it prudent and fair to subject an HIV-AIDS driver to drive a heavy duty truck from Windhoek to Johannesburg continuously without hastening his or her health condition [to deteriorate]? Is it appropriate to require an HIV-AIDS infected person, who is in an advanced stage, to serve food?”Instead, he said, his Ministry was encouraging the introduction of sectoral minimum wages, as had been introduced in the farming sector.The new Labour Bill, which was passed on Thursday, is set to replace the current Act, which became law in 1992.The most significant change is the way in which the labour industry deals with the prevention and resolution of disputes.It also makes amendments to sections related to maternity leave, collective bargaining, child labour and hours of work.Responding to comments from MPs on the Bill, which was introduced to the House in February, Hausiku said he failed to understand why the DTA had registered so many objections to the Bill when it had been drawn up through joint consultation between parliamentarians, unions and employers.The Minister said the Bill had been stalled for too long after it was decided almost eight years ago that it be revised and simplified.”You are not the only one, but there are also representatives from the union who want us to return [to discussions].No we will not allow it.We can’t do that,” he told the DTA’s Johan de Waal, the last MP to contribute to the debate.Hausiku said he would be embarrassed to return to a session of the International Labour Organisation later this year without being able to report progress on the passing of a new labour law.In concluding the second reading debate on the Bill, Hausiku mostly clarified issues queried by ruling party MPs on matters related to dispute resolution, contract labour, trade union fees, working hours and leave periods.Following a call from Home Affairs Deputy Minister Loide Kasingo and the Congress of Democrats’ Elizabeth Amakugo for paternity leave to be considered, Hausiku said while the proposal was “good and interesting”, it had to be dealt with taking into account the country’s economic performance.”The principle of paternity leave is well understood but the … impact of such a right appears to heavily outweigh its benefits at this point … and under the … prevailing circumstances that characterise the socio-economic structure and performance of Namibia,” said Hausiku.He said lawmakers would also have to decide whether this provision would be confined to married couples, partners or any relationship that bears a child.”What about if a man fathers more than one child in a year with different women?” he questioned.Hausiku also touched on reports of discrimination against employees who were HIV-AIDS infected.While this was prohibited under the National Code on HIV-AIDS and Employment, there were serious questions that required that the infected were not unnecessarily subjected to too demanding working conditions.”Is it prudent and fair to subject an HIV-AIDS driver to drive a heavy duty truck from Windhoek to Johannesburg continuously without hastening his or her health condition [to deteriorate]? Is it appropriate to require an HIV-AIDS infected person, who is in an advanced stage, to serve food?”