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14:03Last update on: 2 Oct 2013
The Namibian
Wed 2 Oct 2013
SMS Of The Day * I SALUTE the President for commissioning the long overdue mass housing initiative and for being the chairperson of the ministerial committee. The question is - does NHE have the capacity to build 9 000 houses in 18 months? NHE must please SMS Of The Day * FOR the sake of clarity, Swapo is one part of the movement that liberated this country. Secondly, Nipam does not belong to Swapo. Joseph Diescho or any other competent Namibian has the right to lead Nipam or any other state institution. D Food For Thought * PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba, just an idea: Why don’t you use some of our foreign-based ambassadors to attend international conferences? This would save our country millions of dollars and give you and your advisers more time and res Bouquets And Brickbats * PUPILS do not know who the President is, learners and teachers use the bush when nature calls, school principals and school boards running schools as if they were their personal fiefdoms, hostel learners sleeping on sandy floors w SMS Of The Day * WHERE is this new trend of property owners demanding a cash deposit of up to N$300 000 from interested buyers coming from these days? Or even worse, a top up of up to N$400 000 on the officially valued price, also in cash? How many middle Food For Thought * THE word democracy is the most misused and abused in the world. The Rally for Democracy and Progress has appointed a group of people to prepare for their upcoming convention and all of them are campaigning for positions. What a conspira Bouquets And Brickbats * CAN President Pohamba step down; he is totally failing the Namibian nation. Call the nation to order and remind all that since independence all the people are equal and are equally entitled to everything that is to benefit and bui SMS Of The Day * THE Japanese capital Tokyo has a population of 39 million almost 20 times the population of Namibia, however none of them eat from the dumpsite. Japan hardly has any mineral resources. Do leaders in the Namibian government sleep soundly w Food For Thought * WE cannot deny that our country still faces enormous challenges but I want to encourage fellow Namibians to appreciate the progress we have made as a nation. Development takes time that is why we need to build a solid foundation which e Bouquets And Brickbats * DOES anyone know how many bills were passed during the tenure of the Founding President and how many did he refer back to Parliament, compared to those passed by the current President? SMS Of The Day * WE Africans are stagnant because of our politics and history. China and Cuba went through liberation wars but are moving forward and not dwelling in the past. Disappointing is our young intellectuals who are wasting time, too pre-occupied Food For Thought * IS THE Heroes Day a tribute to our fallen heroes or just another Swapo rally? It’s very confusing since all heroes being mentioned are or were Swapo members. Very confused and need to know. Bouquets And Brickbats * TO the author of the SMS on Monday, 30 September 2013, requesting his Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba to step down. Whoever you are I would like to refer to you as a misguided element. Life has been better ever since Pres
ECONOMIC NEWS | 2010-02-03
Tender Board tightens rules to protect jobs
TILENI MONGUDHI
COMPANIES making use of foreign unskilled and semi-skilled workers will no longer qualify for Government tenders.
The Tender Board announced in the Government daily New Era yesterday that 'henceforth 100 per cent of all unskilled and semi-skilled labour must be sourced, without exception, from within Namibia'.
The Secretary to the Tender Board, Welma Enssle, told The Namibian that foreign unskilled and semi-skilled labour has been imported while the country has an estimated 50 per cent unemployment rate. She said the Ministries of Labour, Works, Home Affairs and Finance would have to work together to implement the new regulation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will be expected to tighten the criteria for issuing work permits while Labour should monitor employers.
A Government source told The Namibian that the new measure was aimed particularly at Asian construction companies, which have been accused of importing manual labourers at the expense of local workers.
Those cited most often are Chinese and North Korean construction companies.
Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has been pushing for a review of the laws governing the Tender Board.
In her speech at the opening of the Tender Board about a fortnight ago, she said a review of the Tender Board Act was long overdue since it did not address certain new developments in the country.
She added the Act should not only focus on the development objectives of the country but should look out for the interests of the Namibian people.
One of the issues she wanted addressed in the review was following up on the successful bidders' commitment to affirmative action, job creation and the sourcing of local products.
National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda welcomed the Tender Board announcement.
He said the Tender Board was now talking the same language as the unions - to help alleviate unemployment and poverty - and that the move will enhance skills in the country.
The Swapo Party Youth League, (SPYL) has been critical of the Tender Board for years.
SPYL Secretary Elijah Ngurare said the only winner in this regard is the Namibian people.
'We are happy, and hope that it is implemented fully,' he said adding that the SPYL wanted to see genuine 'Namibianisation of tenders'.
The Secretary to the Tender Board, Welma Enssle, told The Namibian that foreign unskilled and semi-skilled labour has been imported while the country has an estimated 50 per cent unemployment rate. She said the Ministries of Labour, Works, Home Affairs and Finance would have to work together to implement the new regulation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will be expected to tighten the criteria for issuing work permits while Labour should monitor employers.
A Government source told The Namibian that the new measure was aimed particularly at Asian construction companies, which have been accused of importing manual labourers at the expense of local workers.
Those cited most often are Chinese and North Korean construction companies.
Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has been pushing for a review of the laws governing the Tender Board.
In her speech at the opening of the Tender Board about a fortnight ago, she said a review of the Tender Board Act was long overdue since it did not address certain new developments in the country.
She added the Act should not only focus on the development objectives of the country but should look out for the interests of the Namibian people.
One of the issues she wanted addressed in the review was following up on the successful bidders' commitment to affirmative action, job creation and the sourcing of local products.
National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda welcomed the Tender Board announcement.
He said the Tender Board was now talking the same language as the unions - to help alleviate unemployment and poverty - and that the move will enhance skills in the country.
The Swapo Party Youth League, (SPYL) has been critical of the Tender Board for years.
SPYL Secretary Elijah Ngurare said the only winner in this regard is the Namibian people.
'We are happy, and hope that it is implemented fully,' he said adding that the SPYL wanted to see genuine 'Namibianisation of tenders'.
www.weatherphotos.co.zaWindhoek 15° 30° 0mm
Walvis Bay 12° 19° 0mm
Oshakati 18° 36° 0mm
Keetmanshoop 17° 36° 0mm
Grootfontein 11° 30° 0mm
Gobabis 14° 34° 0mm
(October 2)
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