Training on Basic Safety and Familiarization for Labour Inspectors
Advancing decent work in the fisheries sector in Namibia through quality training following international labour standards.
4 August 2022
(ILO News, Windhoek) – In an effort to advance decent work in the fisheries sector and support labour inspectors to carry out their full mandate, the ILO, through the European Union supported Sustainable Supply Chains to Build Forward Better Project recently organized basic safety and familiarization training for 15 labour and industry inspectors to undergo the much-required certification. This was on basic personal safety and social responsibility skills, basic personal survival techniques, elementary first aid, and basic firefighting and fire prevention skills.
Participants undergoing the water survival skills (left) and firefighting skills (right)
Labour inspections for the sea-going workers rely on information from employers, employees, and employees’ representatives on-shore rather than the employees themselves during inspections. This is largely due to the restriction of boarding fishing vessels for inspection by labour inspectors without proper seagoing documents and certifications, such as basic sea survival skills, first aid skills, and medical clearance certificates to be on the sea, as required by law.
The week-long training was provided by the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI), a Trust of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, which provides training per the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers of 1978/1995 as well as the Namibian Merchant Shipping Act of 1951, particularly in the areas of education, training, and certification of Namibian seafarers under the guidance of the Directorate of Maritime Affairs (DMA) which is an International Maritime Organization accredited authority.
Participants receiving certificates in Basic safety and familiarisation
Ms. Aune Mudjanima, Director of Labour Services, Ministry of Labour Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation noted that
The Directorate of Labour Services within the Ministry of Labour Industrial Relations and Employment Creations (MOL comprises two Divisions, the Labour Inspectorate and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), and both are mandated to ensure adherence to and enforcement of compliance to the Labour Act and regulations. These directorates are tasked with inspecting employment conditions and basic OSH.
The divisions are unfortunately severely overworked and due to the magnitude of responsibilities they need to fulfil, labour inspections in the fisheries sector have been conducted on a needs basis or in specific cases when persistent complaints are received. This saw the Directorate of Labour Services inspect a total of 29 establishments in the fishing sector, flagging 6 as non-compliant in 2020.
The Directorate is responsible for promoting harmonious labour and industrial relations by protecting the national workforce from unfair labour practices and unsafe working conditions. It ensures adherence to the provisions of the Labour Act and regulations relating to the health and safety of employees at their workplace through advocacy and enforcing compliance.
Labour inspections for the sea-going workers rely on information from employers, employees, and employees’ representatives on-shore rather than the employees themselves during inspections. This is largely due to the restriction of boarding fishing vessels for inspection by labour inspectors without proper seagoing documents and certifications, such as basic sea survival skills, first aid skills, and medical clearance certificates to be on the sea, as required by law.
The week-long training was provided by the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI), a Trust of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, which provides training per the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers of 1978/1995 as well as the Namibian Merchant Shipping Act of 1951, particularly in the areas of education, training, and certification of Namibian seafarers under the guidance of the Directorate of Maritime Affairs (DMA) which is an International Maritime Organization accredited authority.
Ms. Aune Mudjanima, Director of Labour Services, Ministry of Labour Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation noted that
“We do not have the facts of the working conditions on the vessels as we heavily rely on what companies provide us on what is happening at sea. With this training, labour inspectors will be able to inspect Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and labour conditions on board fishing vessels.”Ms. Mudjanima further highlighted.
“As per maritime requirements, we could not carry out our mandate to the fullest in the maritime and fisheries sector, however, the doors are now open for us to do our work to the fullest"
The Directorate of Labour Services within the Ministry of Labour Industrial Relations and Employment Creations (MOL comprises two Divisions, the Labour Inspectorate and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), and both are mandated to ensure adherence to and enforcement of compliance to the Labour Act and regulations. These directorates are tasked with inspecting employment conditions and basic OSH.
The divisions are unfortunately severely overworked and due to the magnitude of responsibilities they need to fulfil, labour inspections in the fisheries sector have been conducted on a needs basis or in specific cases when persistent complaints are received. This saw the Directorate of Labour Services inspect a total of 29 establishments in the fishing sector, flagging 6 as non-compliant in 2020.
The Directorate is responsible for promoting harmonious labour and industrial relations by protecting the national workforce from unfair labour practices and unsafe working conditions. It ensures adherence to the provisions of the Labour Act and regulations relating to the health and safety of employees at their workplace through advocacy and enforcing compliance.