OMAFO-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged all employers to ensure that labour laws are upheld and that employees are paid wages and salaries and receive benefits in accordance with the Labour Act, 2007 (Act No. 11 of 2007).
"Employers should also ensure full compliance with the minimum wage adopted by the Government. Equally important is that every workplace remains safe. No Namibian should have to choose between earning a living and protecting their health or life," she said.
The President added that it has been reported that some wholesale and retail businesses in the Ohangwena region are not complying with labour laws.
"Non-compliance with labour laws is a serious issue that not only undermines our governance system but also negatively affects the morale of employees," she said.
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She made these remarks on Saturday while inaugurating the Ohangwena Times Square Shopping Complex in Helao Nafidi. The shopping complex has 45 shops, which are currently operating. It was constructed and owned by a Chinese national.
"The development of this Times Square Complex is a testament to the private sector's confidence in investing in Namibia. It shows that the private sector is ready to seize the peaceful and stable environment which the people of Namibia and its Government are jealously safeguarding," Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
"It is my hope that the Ohangwena Times Square will make a meaningful contribution to the economic development of this town, the Ohangwena region and Namibia as a whole."
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the decision by Ohangwena Times Square CC to invest in Helao Nafidi is highly commendable.
"This development not only brings services closer to the people but also strengthens the infrastructural base of the town and calls for further investment in the region and the country as a whole," she said.
"While bringing services to the people, the complex should not serve as a distraction for learners from nearby schools. I urge the school and mall management to put in place strong measures to ensure that learners remain in school.
"There is an African proverb that reminds us that 'When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.' It teaches us that our greatest achievements endure when we protect them together," she further emphasised.
She therefore urged people to share the responsibility of taking care of the most vulnerable, particularly learners who may be disrupted by activities taking place at the complex.
The President stressed that the Government views the informal sector as a driver of local employment and livelihood sustainability, particularly for rural communities.
She said the complex is expected to create economic opportunities that will attract informal traders seeking daily income.
"While this might have implications related to hygiene and safety concerns, the Government's position remains that development should be orderly and laws, particularly by-laws, should be maintained in accordance with the Constitution," she said.
The Head of State further urged the Office of the Governor, the Town Council, mall management and other stakeholders to ensure that informal trading is addressed through mutual understanding and dialogue, rather than confrontation and violence.
Moreover, she said the Ohangwena region's strategic location along the border with the Republic of Angola presents considerable opportunities for expanding cross-border trade.
"Therefore, this complex could be one of the commercial gateways that connect Namibian entrepreneurs and producers to wider Angolan markets," she said.
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Ohangwena Governor Kadiva Hamutumwa noted that the region remains open for business and urged investors to consider investing in the region.
China's Ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping, said he was pleased with the trade volumes between the two countries.
Helao Nafidi Town Mayor Darius Shaalukeni said the town council remains committed to bringing services closer to the people and ensuring that development progresses well in the town.
"This shopping complex will create job opportunities for our youth in Helao Nafidi and surrounding areas," he said.
He urged shop owners to ensure that they recruit local people so that they can earn an income to support their families.
