Kuvee Kangueehi
22 October 2008
Windhoek — South African Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana has congratulated Namibia for scrapping labour hire as per the new Labour Act and said his country will soon follow suit and ban labour hire companies.
The minister who was on a three-day visit to Namibia said labour hire companies are a "nuisance and against the constitution of South Africa". He was excited by the new piece of legislation.
"I will soon put it to my colleagues in parliament. If Swapo has done it, why can't the ANC do it?'
He noted that he is also aware of the court case going on in Namibia regarding labour hire companies and his ministry will follow its developments closely in order to learn from this experience.
Mdladlana warned labour hire companies that their days are numbered in southern Africa, as other countries in the region are planning to ban them completely.
"Labour hire companies cannot migrate to South Africa because we are also going to ban them, it is slavery."
The minister said the fact that people recruited by labour hire companies cannot join trade unions is a violation of human rights, as freedom of association is guaranteed in the constitution.
Mdladlana together with his counterpart Immanuel Ngatjizeko signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of labour.
The agreement has its origin in the visit to South Africa last year by the former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Alpheus !Naruseb.
The two countries agreed that there is a need for dynamic and more consistent cooperation between the two ministries and their ideas have been concretised in the MoU that was signed.
The wide-ranging agreement, which has a duration of four years, covers areas of dispute mechanisms and institutions.
It also covers social dialogue, productivity, international relations, labour inspections and employment services and labour law reform.
Ngatjizeko said the visit by the South African minister comes at the appropriate time, as Namibia puts into effect the new Labour Act on November 1.
He said the two countries have a lot in common in the labour field because of the former colonial relationship and the legacy of apartheid.
"There are similarities in our modern legislative frameworks, and the problems that our ministries have to address are often the same, particularly when it comes to tackling unemployment, skills deficits, labour hire and the goal of decent work."
Ngatjizeko is confident that the agreement will build on parallels and existing relationships while giving impetus to new and more effective approaches both nationally and in the sub region and continent.
Mdladlana paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Nahas Angula and the Secretary General of the Swapo Party Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana.
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