Internships, Exploitation and Youth Unemployment
Hugh Masekela in his famous song ‘Stimela’ tells a story of African workers carried by a train into systems of labour that demanded their labour but disregarded their dignity. Today, many young Namibians are boarding a different kind of train – the internship system. Internships are presented as opportunities and marketed as experience. But for […] The post Internships, Exploitation and Youth Unemployment appeared first on The Namibian .
Hugh Masekela in his famous song ‘Stimela’ tells a story of African workers carried by a train into systems of labour that demanded their labour but disregarded their dignity.
Today, many young Namibians are boarding a different kind of train – the internship system.
Internships are presented as opportunities and marketed as experience. But for many graduates and students, they have become a cycle of underpaid work, delayed independence, and professional uncertainty.
Namibia’s youth unemployment rate stands at 44.4% and while it is an issue the country struggles with, it would be ignorant to not applaud the efforts the government and private sector have made to try and address this issue.
In 2019, the Namibia National Internship Programme was launched to address challenges graduates face when trying to enter the job market. Under the sixth National Development Plan, access to internships in both the public and private sector are also recognised as one way to strengthen youth employability.
