Denver Isaacs and Adam Hartman
2 May 2008
Windhoek — RETRENCHMENT was yesterday described as a disease too frequently experienced in Namibia.
Addressing a May Day rally at the UN Plaza in Windhoek, Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu) President David Shikulo compared retrenchment to HIV-AIDS in the way it was "simply wiping away our brothers and sisters".
The theme for this year was: 'Workers reject unemployment, retrenchments and demand permanent and decent jobs for all'.
"This year, this disease must come to an end.
Let us say no more retrenchment in Namibia," he told the estimated 200 people who attended the event, adding that layoffs had a destructive impact on the emotional wellbeing of those affected.
Shikulo urged the State and private institutions alike to address the ongoing problem of unemployment by providing practical training for students at various national institutions.
"Every year we have our kids graduating, but they don't get any jobs.
You look at the papers and all you see is companies looking for five years' experience, 10 years' experience.
"Where will a graduate from Unam get this if he just finished? We call on Government and the private sector to allow our kids to practise while going to school.
They can even do it for free. Let them gain experience," he said. Shikulo also addressed the question of shady investments, naming the recently closed Malaysian-owned textile factory Ramatex as a prime example of where not to go again.
"We are a nation under attack from global capitalists. They are well trained to restrain us. Ramatex came here singing a good song. They came all the way from Asia saying they want to give our people jobs.
"But at the end of the day they only ended up frustrating us. We say we are no longer looking for this kind of investment. We know how to suffer and how to survive. Let them go," he said.
A moment of silence was observed for fallen colleagues in the union movement, with special mention made of the late Minister of Local and Regional Government, John Pandeni.
Pandeni was instrumental in the launching of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW).
At a Workers' Day rally at Walvis Bay, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said it was the joint task of Government, the private sector and the workers to work together for a better labour environment, which was vital for national productivity and economic growth.
Pohamba said the theme raised fundamental questions related to the way in which workers were treated in various sectors.
According to him, it also highlighted the need for job security and fair treatment of workers.
"These are fundamental issues that need the attention of us all so we can promote and improve productivity and economic growth in all corners of Namibia," he added.
The President said Government would continue to put measures in place to protect and promote the welfare of workers, and that the new Labour Act would go a long way in implementing these measures.
He also noted that plans were in the pipeline to establish the Namibian Institute for Public Administration and Management where civil servants would be trained to become more efficient, while a new vocational training centre would be built at Keetmanshoop to complement the work of existing institutions.
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