New labour law ‘coming’ too soon

THE implementation of the new Labour Act on November 1 will catch the economy unprepared, as the regulations and the code of conduct for labour relations, which must accompany the new legislation, have not been made available yet, a local lawyer said yesterday.

“To date we have not received a Government Gazette notifying the public as required by law of either the implementation date or the Regulations and Code of Good Conduct,” Pieter de Beer told The Namibian. “Our office even contacted the printers of the Government Gazette, and were told that the we should phone again next week Tuesday.In the meantime the implementation date announced by Labour Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko last week is drawing closer quickly.””There are so many issues which need the attention of employers, as the new law will require four different methods of calculating overtime payment, depending on when and how the working week is scheduled.I can only imagine how long it is going to take for the software companies to change the payment systems for businesses,” De Beer pointed out.The new law raised eyebrows because it allows extra days of compassionate leave for employees, outlaws labour hire and eliminates the term “casual employee” but the alternative term “temporary employee” and related social security payments for such workers are not clearly defined.Another controversial section forces employers on farms, including tourism lodges, to allow dismissed employees three months to stay on the farm.This means that any new employees replacing the dismissed ones must be housed elsewhere.”Our office even contacted the printers of the Government Gazette, and were told that the we should phone again next week Tuesday.In the meantime the implementation date announced by Labour Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko last week is drawing closer quickly.””There are so many issues which need the attention of employers, as the new law will require four different methods of calculating overtime payment, depending on when and how the working week is scheduled.I can only imagine how long it is going to take for the software companies to change the payment systems for businesses,” De Beer pointed out.The new law raised eyebrows because it allows extra days of compassionate leave for employees, outlaws labour hire and eliminates the term “casual employee” but the alternative term “temporary employee” and related social security payments for such workers are not clearly defined.Another controversial section forces employers on farms, including tourism lodges, to allow dismissed employees three months to stay on the farm.This means that any new employees replacing the dismissed ones must be housed elsewhere.