The Wages Commission of Namibia has announced that public hearings will be held at Otjiwarongo on 01 September and Swakopmund on 07 September, while a final stakeholder engagement session is set for 10 September 2021.
The commission’s chairperson, Marius Kudumo, in a media statement on Sunday said the two public hearings should have been conducted in June 2021 as was the case with public hearings throughout the country, but were deferred due to the COVID-19 regulations.
“The purpose of the public hearings is to afford individuals, employees, employers, trade unions, and employers’ organisations opportunities to make oral representations regarding matters set out in the terms of reference of the commission. The final by invitation stakeholder engagement on the other hand, is to afford key invited stakeholders an opportunity to make final representations and for the commission to clarify matters emanating from written and oral representations requiring further clarifications,” he said.
He added that the engagement is, furthermore, aimed at filling gaps from both oral and written representations received thus far with a view toward concretising the findings and recommendations of the commission.
The commission has received 46 written representations and as per its work plan conducted public hearings to receive oral representations in Windhoek (Khomas Region), Aussenkehr and Keetmanshoop (//Kharas Region), Gobabis (Omaheke Region), Katima Mulilo (Zambezi Region), Rundu (Kavango East Region), Eenhana (Ohangwena Region), Oshakati (Oshana Region) and Opuwo (Kunene Region).
“A total of 97 oral presentations were made at the public hearings and 344 persons attended the hearings. In addition, the commission has received written input from the International Labour Organisation. Lastly, the commission invites and encourages social partners in labour relations in the two towns to attend the hearings with the view to make representations and to contribute to the work of the commission,” Kudumo said.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
