Labour-hire ban sparks health crisis

THE banning of labour hire has sparked a major health crisis, with high-level Government officials yesterday scrambling to prevent a disaster after the contracts of around 1 400 health workers were declared illegal.

At risk are key services related to the treatment of HIV-AIDS, including the dispensing of anti-retrovirals (ARVs) countrywide.
Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi held talks with his Labour counterpart, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, and the two are expected to head to the Office of Prime Minister today to discuss a way to avert a major layoff of health workers employed through recruitment consultancies.
Deputy Permanent Secretary of Health Dr Norbert Forster confirmed yesterday that the ministry risks losing the services of ‘a sizeable number … around 1 400’ health workers because of section 128 in the Labour Act, which prohibits labour-hire services.
Affected are staff members funded through the Global Fund Programme and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) and working with anti-retroviral therapy (ART), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and voluntary counselling and testing centres (VCTs).
‘We hope to have more clarity before the end of the week. What is clear is that the services need to continue. We need to see whether there is a possibility to somehow work around section 128,’ Forster said.
One of the affected recruiting agencies is Potentia Namibia Recruitment Consultancy cc.
Craig Dennis of Potentia Namibia said they have already given retrenchment notices to 350 staff members but did not want to provide further details, as they plan to hold a media briefing together with donor agencies and the Ministry of Health.
Their services will be terminated at the end of February.
The Namibian has it on good authority that Forster has already written to affected health staff at Potentia Namibia, informing them that they are in discussions with the Attorney General’s office to find alternative arrangements for their employment.
It is believed that around 100 doctors, close to 100 nurses, scores of pharmacists and more than 600 community counsellors are affected by the impact of section 128.
The Government regards their services as ‘crucial’, especially in the treatment of HIV-AIDS.
Some of the health staff work at ART clinics in hospitals throughout the country, giving patients the drugs as well as providing counselling and other services.
Sources questioned why such important issues were not discussed between the two ministries before the new Labour Act was finalised.
Others said there is indeed contact between Labour and Health but that no such situation was expected.
‘We are busy with last-minute panic moves. Hopefully, there won’t be any layoffs because it might be a disaster for our health services,’ one said.
Labour hire will be illegal in Namibia from March 1, with an estimated 10 000 to 16 000 workers risking losing their jobs because they are registered with labour brokers.
Africa Personnel Services has the lion’s share of between 6 000 and 8 000 of labourers and has already given notice of retrenchments.