Economic and Socio- political Situation In 1998, the total Namibian population was estimated at 1,749,953 with an average annual growth rate of 3.1% over the last four years. Current estimates of the labour force put the figure at 546,052 of which the formal sector employs about 225,104, and the informal sector 129,769. With an increase in unemployment levels to 24% in the urban areas and 16.2% in the rural areas, Namibia is confronted with a serious unemployment problem. An unusually high proportion of government spending on public sector salaries also dominates the Namibian economy. Despite continuous endeavours to downsize the public sector, the current labour market statistics reveal that approximately 4.5% of the population is employed in the public sector. Income distribution continues to be one of the major issues of concern. Despite the fact that Namibia is considered a middle-income country by UNDP (US$ 1,755 per capita income in 1999), statistics indicate that approximately 5% of the population (white) and 1% of the black emerging elite earn annual per capita income of US$ 6,500 while the remaining black population earn per capita annual income of US$85. Since independence from colonial rule, and the first democratic elections in 1990, the SWAPO government has retained its political dominance. At the end of 1999, President Nujoma was sworn in for a controversial third term despite violent incidents during the elections and the assessment by political analysts that the elections were free, though not that fair to the opposition parties. The next presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for 2004. Increasing levels of poverty and unemployment as well as the rapid increase in HIV infection rates currently influence the political situation. The deployment of Namibian troops in the costly civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its attendant effect on the Caprivi crisis also had a significant impact on the political landscape. Social Dialogue With the current technical assistance to Namibia through the ILO/SWISS project, the ILO is strengthening the Namibian Employers Federation (NEF), the National Union of Namibia Workers (NUNW), and the Ministry of Labour in addition to assisting the country to develop the institutions of social dialogue by redefining and strengthening the tripartite Labour Advisory Council as well as develop the capacities of the other parties to social dialogue. This is also expected to have a positive impact on the existing dispute prevention and resolution system in Namibia which has not yet become self-reliant and independent of the social partners. International Labour Standards Namibia has ratified seven of the fundamental Conventions. Conventions No. 87 and 98 were ratified in 1995 followed by Conventions No. 29, 105, 138 and 182 in 2000. In 2001 the country ratified Convention No. 111. This is a significant achievement in itself given that in 1998 Namibia had the least number of ratifications of ILO Conventions in Southern Africa. Conventions ratified by Namibia ILO Technical Cooperation Current areas of cooperation include: · Child labour in Namibia has become a high priority to President Nujoma, who himself requested ILO to intervene and give technical assistance in analysing and disseminating statistical information on child activities. ILO helped in data analysis and the writing of the report of The Child Activity Survey. · Namibia is one of the six countries that were added to the JFA programme in 1999. Though the programme has been launched in the country and interviews conducted to identify the candidate for the position of National Programme Coordinator, further implementation has been stalled due to lack of clear guidelines on the future direction of the JFA programme. · Between 2000 and 2002 the ILO supported the Department of Women's Affairs (Office of the President)- now the Ministry of Women's Affairs and Child Welfare- by providing financial and technical assistance to organise the "Women-in-Business/SADC Fair 2000 and Investment Forum" for the SADC region. The conference aimed at contributing to the economic empowerment of women with a view to alleviating poverty through enhanced productivity (3 - 7 May 2000). · An African regional tripartite workshop on strategies to deal with the Social and Labour Implications of HIV/AIDS was held in September 1999 in Windhoek. This has resulted in the process of developing a comprehensive programme on HIV/AIDS and the world of work, which will hopefully have a sub-regional focus. · The on-going technical assistance in SIYB programmes to the social partners in Namibia has proven to be successful in terms of creating opportunities for a significant number of new entrants in the labour market and strengthening existing small scale and medium entrepreneurs. Integrating the SIYB programme into the multifaceted 'Jobs for Africa' programme will link SMME programmes with investment-oriented approaches. · In 1999, the ILO trained commissioners within the Employment Equity Commission on gender issues in order to implement the Affirmative Action in Employment Act promulgated in 1998. |
