Labour inspections on farms targeting child labour

WINDHOEK – Labour inspectors, social workers, education officials and the Police were to start follow-up inspections from Saturday at farms countrywide to rescue child labourers.

Labour and Social Welfare Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko told a media conference on Friday that the ultimate purpose of the exercise was to ensure that Government secured a place for these children in schools next year.A total of 111 cases of child labour have been reported in Namibia after the Labour Ministry carried out an investigation in 2009 on human trafficking and child labour in the country’s 13 regions, which focused specifically on the agricultural sector.Of this number of children, 40 per cent had been trafficked from Zambia and Angola to Namibia to work on commercial and communal farms.’These numbers raise serious concern to the nation. And, as such, urgent action needs to be taken,’ said Ngatjizeko.Cabinet has now directed that a follow-up inspection be carried out, and that compliance orders and all the provisions of the Labour Act that restrict and prohibit child labour in Namibia be enforced.Ngatjizeko said teams would carry out directed follow-up inspections on all compliance orders issued in the regions to determine the level of compliance, and to take appropriate action.The minister called on employers as well as parents of child labourers to refrain from such conduct or face the full brunt of the law.’I would like to direct you all to lay criminal charges with the Namibian Police against employers who would be found employing children in contravention of the Labour Act,’ Ngatjizeko said.’Such perpetrators or offenders must be brought to book. It is my intention to inform Cabinet of how many arrests were made after your inspections,’ the minister said.Team leaders of these investigations would convene meetings with Regional Councillors and traditional leaders in various regions of the country.The outcome of these investigations would be communicated to the Namibian Employers Federation (NEF), and to trade union organisations for further action. – Nampa