Windhoek, February 16 – Honourable Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Speaker of the National Assembly, officially opened a Public Dialogue on Promoting Decent Work in Namibia’s Mining Sector this morning at Droombos in Windhoek. The event, convened by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Poverty Eradication, Labour, and Industrial Relations with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, brings together MPs, mining leaders, trade unions, government officials, civil society, development partners, and media to address worker rights and sector challenges.
In her opening remarks, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila emphasized mining’s role as a “strategic pillar” of Namibia’s economy, driving revenue, foreign exchange, and jobs. However, she stressed the need to move beyond economic metrics to ensure “fair opportunities, safe workplaces, and sustainable livelihoods” for workers and their families. “Growth must translate into decent work, which is not simply a policy aspiration; it is a constitutional principle underpinning human dignity, social justice, and poverty reduction,” she stated.
The Speaker highlighted Namibia’s robust legal framework, including the Labour Act, mining licence conditions, and merger obligations, but pointed to gaps in implementation, enforcement, and accountability. “Laws must be applied in practice, not only in theory,” she said, calling the dialogue a timely platform for constructive engagement rather than blame.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila urged participants to share workers’ experiences, industry views, and civil society insights to produce practical recommendations. These would guide parliamentary oversight, policy, legislation, and ministerial actions to improve employment conditions. She linked decent work to long-term prosperity, noting it motivates workers, boosts productivity, and enhances business profitability.
The government, she added, will prioritize skills development through quality education, training incentives for the private sector, and preparation for mining transitions like mine closures or production shifts to avoid job losses. “We urge business to continue working with government to optimize benefits for profitability, economic development, and the welfare of employees and communities,” she concluded, before declaring the dialogue open.
The event underscores Parliament’s constitutional mandate to represent the people, oversee the Executive, and promote inclusive development amid ongoing debates on labour standards in mining.
