The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Poverty Reduction and Labour Relations has commenced an oversight mission to investigate the growing use of contract labour in Namibia’s mining sector. The mission kicked off this week in the Erongo Region and will continue through the /Karas, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Khomas regions until 16 August 2025.
The Committee is engaging key stakeholders, including mining companies, private employment agencies, regulatory institutions, trade unions, and affected workers. These consultations aim to assess compliance with Section 128 of the Labour Amendment Act (2012), which mandates parity in treatment between permanent and contract workers.
The Committee Chairperson Hon. Justina Jonas continuously reiterates the growing replacement of permanent staff with contractors via labour hire firms was deeply concerning. Recent statistics reveal a 12.6% increase in mining employment in 2023, but with a significant portion of the workforce now composed of contract and temporary workers. Concerns have been raised over unequal pay, lack of benefits, and efforts by some companies to sidestep merger and acquisition labour obligations.
The findings from this mission will be tabled in Parliament and will serve as a guideline on policy and legislative deliberations aimed at strengthening enforcement mechanisms and protecting the rights of employees in the mining sector.
