| Stated Role |
Prior to Namibia’s independence, the Department of Manpower was an extension of the South African Ministry of Manpower Development, which was characterised by systematic discriminatory policies on wages and labour conditions based on race, gender, ethnicity and political affiliation. This situation constantly provoked occurrences of industrial unrest and disharmony between employers, employees and trade unions. Continued unfair conditions of employment, inadequate occupational health and safety standards, and lack of freedom of association and suppression of trade unions further aggravated the unstable labour relations. In general, the Department of Manpower had put more emphasis on strengthening the oppressive mechanisms of the South African apartheid regime than addressing human resource issues.<P>As economic growth is an essential prerequisite for ensuring equity, social progress and eradication of poverty, the government of independent Namibia committed itself to promoting strong social policies, justice and democratic institutions in order to create broad-based sustainable development. The government, in addition to seeking to maintain the link between social progress and economic growth, initiated the enactment of various pieces of legislation to guarantee the rights of workers through instruments, such as, labour, social security, anti-discrimination, and affirmative action acts. In addition, all the relevant ILO conventions were adopted and the Labour Advisory Council, a tripartite forum, was established |