Magreth Nunuhe
30 June 2011
Windhoek — Mining is the highest contributor to Namibia’s Gross Domestic Product, yet it is not the biggest employer while agriculture, which is ranked seventh on the GDP contribution scale, provides most jobs.
GDP is the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one particular year.
Mining contributes 12.7 per cent to Namibia’s GDP, while agriculture contributes only 5.4 per cent, but when it comes to employment creation, agriculture tops all industries with a contribution of 15.9 per cent, whereas mining provides a dismal 2.7 per cent.
This means that in Namibia, there is no visible relationship between sector contributions to growth and employment.
However, the correlation data provides useful lessons to enhance labour growth and also suggests which sectors can be targeted to achieve that objective.
This information was revealed by Dr Godfrey Kanyenze, Director of Labour and Economic Development Research in Zimbabwe, when he addressed a workshop titled ‘Employment and Employment Policy’ in Windhoek.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare organized the two-day workshop, which started Tuesday, in collaboration with stakeholders, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Namibian Employers Federation, NUNW and other labour experts.
The workshop is aimed at drafting a new Namibian employment policy. Topics include mainstreaming employment creation in NDP4 formulation process, Namibia’s informal economy and youth unemployment in Namibia.
Speaking at the opening, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, said the workshop would review the 1997 National Employment Policy for Namibia. He noted that in the past few years, there has been focus on employment creation and decent work to reduce poverty and recover from financial and economic crisis.
“I am pleased to note that the Namibian government continues to create enabling legislative framework. Employment Creation Commission Bill and the Employment Services Bill soon to become a law are good examples of government legislative initiative in point,” he said.
Ngatjizeko urged participants to critically analyse the informal sector economy that continues to expand and said although it is growing in terms of providing employment, low levels of productivity and remuneration and lack of security protection are serious concerns.
Tim Parkhouse, Secretary-General of the Namibian Employers’ Federation (NEF), said some of the changes he would like to see is the upgrading or improvement of Tender Board regulations, that regulations around Employment Services Act are not over restrictive so that an employer may be allowed to run a business as they see fit within certain limitations and the improvement of social dialogue on economic social issues.
“The NEF is ready to work with the Ministry (of Labour) and the trade unions in advancing employment in Namibia,” he said, adding that an increase in employment would dignify the people of Namibia.
The workshop ended yesterday.
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