Patience Makwele
The Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA) has called for urgent reforms to labour legislation after Namibia was classified as a regular violator of workers’ rights in the 2026 International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index.
The report placed Namibia in the ITUC’s “orange” category, highlighting concerns over restrictions affecting trade union registration, collective bargaining and the right to strike.
TUCNA secretary general Mahongora Kavihuha said the rating should serve as a warning that workers’ rights guaranteed by law are not always fully realised in practice.
“We need to pull up our socks and realise that some of the restrictions contained in our laws can effectively amount to a denial of workers’ rights,” Kavihuha said during an interview with NBC Current Affairs.
According to Kavihuha, Namibia’s labour framework provides strong protections on paper, while workers often continue to face procedural and administrative barriers when attempting to exercise those rights.
“If you read the laws, you may conclude that workers enjoy all the required protections. But when you look at the practical restrictions imposed on workers seeking to exercise those rights, a different picture emerges,” he said.
Among the concerns raised by TUCNA are the registration and deregistration of trade unions, which the federation argued can weaken workers’ ability to organise and collectively represent their interests.
Kavihuha also criticised lengthy dispute-resolution procedures and cooling-off periods required before workers can embark on industrial action.
“When you grant a right but make the process of exercising that right excessively long and difficult, it effectively becomes a denial of that right,” he said.
Recent labour disputes have highlighted growing tensions between organised labour, employers and government.
Earlier this year, the Teachers’ Union of Namibia (TUN) and the Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) rejected a collective agreement reached between the government and other public sector unions, arguing that the deal unfairly increased the financial burden on employees through higher medical aid contributions.
In the fishing sector, TUCNA publicly criticised fishing companies over alleged retrenchments, delayed salary payments and poor working conditions, while accusing authorities of failing to adequately consult organised labour on decisions affecting workers.
Similar concerns surfaced during the prolonged Namib Mills wage dispute, which resulted in a 59-day strike before government-mediated negotiations produced a settlement.
Political analyst Harushando Joubert said the ITUC rating should not be viewed merely as an international assessment but as an indication of broader governance challenges within labour relations.
“When workers feel that existing institutions are not responding effectively to their concerns, labour disputes become more frequent and trust in regulatory systems begins to erode,” Joubert said.
He said Namibia’s challenge is not necessarily the absence of labour protections but ensuring that workers can access and exercise those rights without unnecessary obstacles.
“The credibility of labour laws depends not only on what is written in legislation but also on whether workers, employers and unions believe the system is fair, accessible and responsive.”
Joubert added that stronger consultation among government, employers and labour representatives would be essential if Namibia hopes to improve its standing in future international assessments.
“Meaningful social dialogue reduces conflict and strengthens legitimacy. Where stakeholders feel excluded from decision-making, disagreements are more likely to escalate into industrial disputes,” said Joubert.
Kavihuha echoed similar sentiments, describing social dialogue as the most important tool for addressing labour rights concerns.
“We should dialogue, dialogue and dialogue. In the absence of social dialogue, the situation is unlikely to improve,” he said.
TUCNA has also pledged to intensify the reporting and documentation of labour rights violations to ensure workers’ experiences are reflected in future international assessments.
Questions sent to the ministry of labour had not been responded to at the time of publication.
