Unemployment on the rise

A LABOUR force survey expected to be released next month indicates that unemployment has increased in Namibia in recent years.

The study estimates the current unemployment rate at 36,7 per cent. Agriculture remains the sector that provides the most jobs – around 102 636.The survey conducted by the Ministry of Labour in 2004 covered a sample of around 7 000 private households across all 13 regions.The collection of information on the economically active population aged 15 and above was prompted by the need to provide basic information on the size and structure of the country’s labour force and to measure the extent of available and unused labour time and human resources for macro-economic monitoring and human resource planning.Cabinet took note of the survey at its meeting of May 9, and instructed the Minister of Labour, Alpheus !Naruseb, to table the survey in the National Assembly when it resumes next month.Cabinet advised that regular surveys on the country’s labour force be conducted to enable policy makers to analyse the past growth performance of the economy.It also proposed the study of demographic and socio-economic factors affecting the size and composition of the labour force.The Ministry of Labour said yesterday that it could not reveal further findings on the survey until it was launched.It will be unveiled together with the 2002 Namibia Occupational Wages Survey, which Cabinet also considered earlier this month.Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the drafting of a comprehensive wage policy that would address the introduction of minimum wages in the lowest-paid sectors of the economy as a means to reduce poverty.The Ministry of Labour has also approved the establishment of a Wages Commission in accordance with the Labour Act of 1992 to examine and make recommendations on the state of wages in the various economic sectors.Cabinet recognised the need for intensified training programmes and for sensitising employers to the need to offer training to their employees.Cabinet further approved that education in Namibian schools be aligned to economic needs and that incentives and disincentives be provided to steer pupils and students into particular specialisations and away from others, as demanded by the strategy of employment promotion.Cabinet has instructed that labour-intensive projects be identified and implemented to address the problem of unemployed youths.Agriculture remains the sector that provides the most jobs – around 102 636.The survey conducted by the Ministry of Labour in 2004 covered a sample of around 7 000 private households across all 13 regions.The collection of information on the economically active population aged 15 and above was prompted by the need to provide basic information on the size and structure of the country’s labour force and to measure the extent of available and unused labour time and human resources for macro-economic monitoring and human resource planning.Cabinet took note of the survey at its meeting of May 9, and instructed the Minister of Labour, Alpheus !Naruseb, to table the survey in the National Assembly when it resumes next month.Cabinet advised that regular surveys on the country’s labour force be conducted to enable policy makers to analyse the past growth performance of the economy.It also proposed the study of demographic and socio-economic factors affecting the size and composition of the labour force.The Ministry of Labour said yesterday that it could not reveal further findings on the survey until it was launched.It will be unveiled together with the 2002 Namibia Occupational Wages Survey, which Cabinet also considered earlier this month.Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the drafting of a comprehensive wage policy that would address the introduction of minimum wages in the lowest-paid sectors of the economy as a means to reduce poverty.The Ministry of Labour has also approved the establishment of a Wages Commission in accordance with the Labour Act of 1992 to examine and make recommendations on the state of wages in the various economic sectors.Cabinet recognised the need for intensified training programmes and for sensitising employers to the need to offer training to their employees.Cabinet further approved that education in Namibian schools be aligned to economic needs and that incentives and disincentives be provided to steer pupils and students into particular specialisations and away from others, as demanded by the strategy of employment promotion.Cabinet has instructed that labour-intensive projects be identified and implemented to address the problem of unemployed youths.