Unions demand role in parliamentary labour visits

Trade unions are demanding a greater role in parliamentary workplace oversight visits, saying their involvement is crucial as parliamentarians uncover widespread labour law violations across the country.

Mineworkers Union of Namibia general secretary George Ampweya on Wednesday said unions have welcomed parliament’s efforts to engage workers directly, but questioned their exclusion from the process.

“They are making unions look useless because what is the point of having unions if parliamentarians are now duplicating our work? We are supposed to be present at those consultations as well,” he said.

Ampweya said many of the concerns raised during the visits were issues unions had repeatedly raised with legislators.

He said parliament should focus on legislation and policy, while unions represent workers and address workplace disputes.