Government wary about unemployment

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba has called on the private sector to increase its support in complementing Government’s efforts in spreading the benefits of independence through job creation, providing scholarships and appropriate skills and capacities.

The President made the call when he officiated at the re-launch of Pupkewitz Megabuild in Windhoek on Monday. Pohamba expressed concern over poverty and high unemployment, which he said were threatening the country’s social fabric, compromising peace, security, stability and the rule of law.”Unemployment robs our youth of opportunities to realise their full potential and turn them into criminals who have no regard for positive values,” he said.It is, therefore, the obligation of both private and public sectors to restore the hope of Namibian youth and enable them to believe in themselves, their country and their future.Pohamba then called on better communication between employers and employees as a way of creating harmonious labour relations in the country.He commended the Pupkewitz Group of Companies for its contribution to the country’s economic development and for empowering its previously disadvantaged employees through training.As a result, the number of managers from the previously disadvantaged community at the company has grown to 15 per cent.Pohamba motivated the company to continue on this path of empowering its employees by granting them an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and succeed in the business arena.On his part, the Executive Chairman of Pupkewitz Group of Companies, Harold Pupkewitz, expressed satisfaction with what his company had achieved to date and attributed his success to hard work and determination to honour the motto of ‘customer satisfaction through service excellence’.Pupkewitz urged Government to maintain a strong focus on encouraging private-sector investment, both local and international, arguing that economic growth is the only definite way to alleviate unemployment and poverty in the country.”It is my sincere belief that the true wealth of Namibia lies in its people, the challenges of the knowledge-based economy require a numerate and literate workforce willing and able to face the challenges of lifelong learning in a globally competitive environment,” he said.He further announced that his company as working on an Employee Share Option Scheme (ESOP) to be introduced March next year.Through this scheme, employees who have been with the company for more than five years will be awarded a financial stake in the capital growth and profitability of the Pupkewitz trading companies.Former President Sam Nujoma first launched Pupkewitz Megabuild in 1994.NampaPohamba expressed concern over poverty and high unemployment, which he said were threatening the country’s social fabric, compromising peace, security, stability and the rule of law.”Unemployment robs our youth of opportunities to realise their full potential and turn them into criminals who have no regard for positive values,” he said.It is, therefore, the obligation of both private and public sectors to restore the hope of Namibian youth and enable them to believe in themselves, their country and their future.Pohamba then called on better communication between employers and employees as a way of creating harmonious labour relations in the country.He commended the Pupkewitz Group of Companies for its contribution to the country’s economic development and for empowering its previously disadvantaged employees through training.As a result, the number of managers from the previously disadvantaged community at the company has grown to 15 per cent.Pohamba motivated the company to continue on this path of empowering its employees by granting them an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and succeed in the business arena.On his part, the Executive Chairman of Pupkewitz Group of Companies, Harold Pupkewitz, expressed satisfaction with what his company had achieved to date and attributed his success to hard work and determination to honour the motto of ‘customer satisfaction through service excellence’.Pupkewitz urged Government to maintain a strong focus on encouraging private-sector investment, both local and international, arguing that economic growth is the only definite way to alleviate unemployment and poverty in the country.”It is my sincere belief that the true wealth of Namibia lies in its people, the challenges of the knowledge-based economy require a numerate and literate workforce willing and able to face the challenges of lifelong learning in a globally competitive environment,” he said.He further announced that his company as working on an Employee Share Option Scheme (ESOP) to be introduced March next year.Through this scheme, employees who have been with the company for more than five years will be awarded a financial stake in the capital growth and profitability of the Pupkewitz trading companies.Former President Sam Nujoma first launched Pupkewitz Megabuild in 1994.Nampa