Namibia Private Sector forced to create Jobs!

[Michael Alexander]

Here's a typical "out of Africa" story....... and ignorant politician who has yet to grasp an understanding of how job creation works.....

How can you force the private sector to employ people they do not need or can ill afford in this current economical situation?

I am sure his more educated colleagues in government must be shaking their heads in disbelief....

A DEPUTY Minister has demanded that the private sector provide jobs for Namibia's unemployed, especially the youth, "to maintain peace and stability", otherwise Government would compel businesses, by law, to do so.

Speaking during yesterday's debate on unemployment, Deputy Finance Minister Tjekero Tweya said most unemployed people in Namibia are black.
"There might be unemployed whites but I have not seen them," Tweya added.
"You chased them away," Elma Dienda of the CoD interjected.
"They are hiding because they are threatened by your attitude," Philemon Moongo of the DTA added.
"Maybe whites are born with experience and others must obtain experience somewhere (before getting employed)," Tweya quipped.

"We urge the private sector to give jobs to all Namibians to maintain peace and stability, for if they don't, the majority might disturb the peace we all enjoy – the Swapo Government will have to create a law to maintain that peace. Unemployment is not a problem of the Swapo Government alone," Tweya said.
According to official figures, unemployment in Namibia stands at around 40 per cent; others have put it higher.
Tweya also urged Government to speed up filling vacancies in the civil service, saying that it takes about nine months to fill a vacancy in some Ministries.
This prompted Moongo to ask Tweya why he is now criticising the government of which he is a member, since the ruling Swapo Party had resolved a few years ago that "jobs should only be given to trusted Swapo members".
The debate continues.

[SandyB]

Trusted  SWAPO  members ..  sounds like  again  putting  the  cart before the horse again ... trusted members may not  necessarily  have the right skills to fill the jobs , so its then lack of  delivery and more tax  money down the drain..  when  oh when will  people learn that equity and " empowerment ' are not always the answer  when a job has to be done effectively ...

[Uwe Leube]

So ... people are actually BORN with experience nowadays?

[Michael Alexander]

Here's the response from the Namibian Newspaper, at least not all the leaders in the country are ignorant:

"
THE Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) yesterday lashed out at Deputy Finance Minister Tjekero Tweya, saying his threat that the private sector will be forced by law to employ the jobless is totally unjustifiable, hugely disturbing and should be rejected.

"Forcing private businesses which contribute greatly to the success of this economy to employ more people than they need or can afford, will result in catastrophic consequences for the economy," NCCI Chief Executive Officer Tarah Shaanika warned.
His statement follows Tweya's demand during the parliamentary debate on unemployment on Tuesday that the private sector must provide work for the country's unemployed "to maintain peace and stability".
"If they don't, the majority might disturb the peace we all enjoy – the Swapo Government will have to create a law to maintain that peace," Tweya said, adding that unemployment is not solely Government's problem.
"These remarks are totally uncalled for and can be understood to imply that the private sector is responsible for the unemployment situation in the country," Shaanika responded.
Government should rather stop awarding contracts to foreigners and finish the long-awaited black economic empowerment (BEE) policy, the NCCI hit back.


The spat comes as the latest figures show that unemployment in Namibia is higher than 50 per cent.
Releasing the Africa Competitiveness Report 2009 yesterday, the World Economic Forum (WEF) quoted the Labour Force Survey: "If 'discouraged people' – those who are not currently employed but who have stopped looking for work – are included, the rate is as high as 54 per cent."
The report also shows that work ethic and unskilled labour remain a serious drag on Namibia's competitiveness.
The NCCI urged Government to understand that in order for the private sector to remain competitive, it must employ competitive workers.
"The private sector has employed many fresh graduates without experience, but for key positions in businesses, one needs to employ people with specific skills and experience in order to ensure competitiveness.
"We cannot be forced to employ simply because we have unemployed people, but must employ people that can add real value to our businesses," the NCCI said.
Shaanika said jobs could only be created if the economy grows, especially in labour-intensive sectors such as agriculture and aquaculture.
The NCCI urges Government to make every effort to create an environment that can facilitate business growth, particularly in key labour intensive sectors, Shaanika said.
"Stop awarding contracts to foreign firms at the expense of local firms which are truly committed to the development of this economy and to job creation," he said.
Government must also finalise and implement its BEE policy, which should ultimately "address the unequal distribution of income in our society and be geared towards growing the economy at a rapid pace in order to address unemployment and poverty", Shaanika said."

[Andrew Darné]

Totally belaglik!!!

Sounds like Zuma's promise in SA to create 1/2million jobs by December '09, and reckon that the extended public works program should be able to accomodate many of these "required" positions.

Poor taxpayer...

[SandyB]

Quite right .. poor taxpayer ,,, public works programs have their uses and benefits  ,, but  on a more limited scale , not the grand JZ   dream ... they employ , money  is spent that filters through the economy  with again a portion making its way back to  the tax coffers .. but yes the surplus funds have to be there , and i'm damm sure  we reaching  breaking point here  with our fiscus,, soon they will introduce another levy  of  sorts ...