Labour Court denies workers right to justice

THE inordinate delays at the Labour Court in delivering judgements denies workers their right to justice.

This was said by Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna) president, Paulus Hango, during May Day celebrations at Lüderitz on Tuesday. ‘There is no justice at the Labour Court in this country’, said Hango.The unionist demanded that the Labour Court deliver judgements on labour cases within two months. ‘We have many many cases before the Labour Court that are not yet resolved. If the court can take two to five years before a decision is taken, then this denies workers the right to justice,’ Hango contended. Hango also took issue over the exorbitant Labour Court legal fees, saying many workers can’t afford to pay these costs.Furthermore, Hango accused the Labour Court of favourtism, claiming that its judgements are more ‘friendly’ towards employers, especially when adjudicating over strikes. Calling for a reform of the justice system, Hango remarked: ‘What makes the institution more corrupt is the fact that the law society, which consist of lawyers are the one which decided and recommended who must be a judge, that means lawyers are the ones who elect themselves to be judges. Some judges have law firms, which mean one hour he or she is a judge and another hour he or she is representing his or her client’. Hango also demanded for the implementation of workers’ national medical aid and pension fund and advocated that workers losing their jobs should given a subsidy funded by the Social Security Commission. He threatened more industrial actions if Tucna’s demands fall on deaf ears. Hango also condemned retrenchment of workers only to be re-employed with service conditions and labour hire practices prevailing in the country, demanding an end to these practices he claimed border on unfair labour practices. luqman@namibian.com.na

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