Labour Bill excludes prison warders, union says

AS the new Labour Bill yesterday moved another step closer to becoming law, the Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) made a last-ditch attempt to have it amended.

At a press conference in the capital, PSUN Deputy Secretary General Manfred Jatamunua expressed concern that the bill did not apply to the prison service. The bill apparently classifies prison service personnel as having a military structure similar to that of the Police and the army, which means they are not allowed to join associations or unions.This concern, the union said, had been brought to the attention of the National Council (NC) last month before its debate on the bill started.It had also been reported to the Labour Minister and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).However, the bill yesterday passed the committee stage in the NC without word of this omission being mentioned.”During consultations that preceded the tabling of the new Labour bill, the PSUN and TUCNA (Trade Union Congress of Namibia) highlighted the omission of the prison service from the applications of the bill as a serious oversight,” Jatamunua said.”Workers and employers, without distinctions whatsoever, should enjoy the rights and protections guaranteed by these conventions,” he added.”It is clear that the work of prison officials inherently differs from that of the Police or the armed forces.It is thus our hope that the members of the NC will use their wisdom and refer the Labour Bill back to the National Assembly for amendment so that the bill includes members of the Namibian Prison Service in its scope of application,” he said.By passing the bill without this amendment, he said, a bill to amend the Labour Act would once again have to go through the whole legislative process.The union referred to recommendations made by the ILO to countries such as Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania and the Bahamas on similar laws they had in place.Namibia has ratified a number of ILO conventions on freedom of association and the right of employees to organise and bargain.Despite the union’s efforts, the Labour Bill is expected to be read for a third time in the NC this week, after which it will be considered passed by them.The bill apparently classifies prison service personnel as having a military structure similar to that of the Police and the army, which means they are not allowed to join associations or unions.This concern, the union said, had been brought to the attention of the National Council (NC) last month before its debate on the bill started.It had also been reported to the Labour Minister and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).However, the bill yesterday passed the committee stage in the NC without word of this omission being mentioned.”During consultations that preceded the tabling of the new Labour bill, the PSUN and TUCNA (Trade Union Congress of Namibia) highlighted the omission of the prison service from the applications of the bill as a serious oversight,” Jatamunua said.”Workers and employers, without distinctions whatsoever, should enjoy the rights and protections guaranteed by these conventions,” he added.”It is clear that the work of prison officials inherently differs from that of the Police or the armed forces.It is thus our hope that the members of the NC will use their wisdom and refer the Labour Bill back to the National Assembly for amendment so that the bill includes members of the Namibian Prison Service in its scope of application,” he said.By passing the bill without this amendment, he said, a bill to amend the Labour Act would once again have to go through the whole legislative process.The union referred to recommendations made by the ILO to countries such as Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania and the Bahamas on similar laws they had in place.Namibia has ratified a number of ILO conventions on freedom of association and the right of employees to organise and bargain.Despite the union’s efforts, the Labour Bill is expected to be read for a third time in the NC this week, after which it will be considered passed by them.