Niël Terblanché
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah used her first Workers’ Day address as head of state to call for a united effort to build a just and prosperous Namibia where labour is respected and rewarded fairly.
She addressed the crowd in Oshakati on Thursday under the theme “Workers Demand Justice through Natural Resource Beneficiation, Value Addition, Living Wages, and Youth Employment.”
“Workers are the backbone of our economy. We cannot speak of freedom and independence without addressing economic injustice. Workers cannot continue to live in poverty while contributing to the growth of industries,” she said.
She said the high level of unemployment, especially among young people, requires change. Namibia’s youth unemployment stands at 44.4%.
“There should be no ‘business as usual’. I want to see a harmonious labour relationship, where workers and employers see themselves as two sides of the same coin, and do justice to one another,” she urged.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government remains committed to social protection and will review minimum wage policies. She said the state supports youth employment efforts, including internships and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for small businesses.
“We must build a Namibia where every worker earns a fair wage, where our resources uplift all, and where the youth inherit not only the land but also diverse opportunities,” she said.
She stressed the need to move beyond exporting raw materials and build local manufacturing.
“Although it will come with time, Namibia must rise beyond being a mere supplier of raw materials to being an exporter of semi-processed to fully finished products,” she said.
She encouraged unity, productivity, and teamwork in rebuilding the economy. She called on workers and unions to support her administration’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption.
“Let this day mark the beginning of a new era, where Namibians do not merely work to survive, but strive to lead a prosperous nation,” she said.
Petersern Kambinda, Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (NARETU), raised concerns about the treatment of workers. He said parts of the justice system are failing workers and serving corporate interests.
“We have also noted with grave concern that our Courts and some Arbitrators are taking us possibly 35 years backwards,” Kambinda said.
He claimed some arbitrators are siding with employers and hinted at bribery.
“They rule in favour of the wealthy because when they rule against them, companies can take them for review. When they rule against the poor, the employees usually don’t have money for lawyers to fight the powerful system,” he said.
He criticised court rulings that allow employers to assign non-striking workers to do the duties of those on strike. He also objected to decisions that give companies access to workers’ medical information.
“Our Courts have been weaponised against the workers and the poor,” he said.
