Namibia: Labour Law Reforms Stalled for a Decade

What the report says

Namibia’s justice minister, Fillemon Wise Immanuel, has warned that long-delayed reforms to the country’s labour framework remain unfinished nearly a decade after work began. According to New Era, the amendment process for the Labour Act started in 2016, while proposed changes to the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act began in 2017, but neither has been completed.

Immanuel made the remarks in Gobabis during the inauguration of the 16th Labour Advisory Council and the new members of the Employment Equity Commission. He linked the slow progress to poor meeting attendance and the reopening of issues that had already been settled, saying the delay is denying workers and employers updated labour laws. He also said he would ask council chairpersons to require written explanations for absences so attendance can be tracked more clearly.

The minister urged the Labour Advisory Council, Employment Equity Commission, Employment Services Board and ministry management to hold a retreat focused on legislative reform so the amendments can be completed without further delay. He said the newly appointed members are expected to produce results, not simply hold formal positions.

The report also notes that the Labour Advisory Council has a statutory role in advising the minister on labour matters, including collective bargaining, workplace safety and readiness for international labour obligations. Immanuel said Namibia’s employment system still reflects historical inequality, underscoring why the reforms matter for workers, employers and broader labour governance.