Unfair dismissals and retrenchments account for the highest number of labour complaints filed.
This was revealed by Labour Commissioner Kyllikki Sihlahla during an interview on the One-on-One news show.
From 2023 to 2026, there have been more than 10,000 labour cases reported to the Office of the Labour Commissioner, of which more than 9,000 have been resolved.
Topping the list are cases relating to unfair dismissals, unfair labour practices, nonpayment of wages and benefits, disputes of interest, and retrenchment procedures.
Limited resources, however, have contributed to the delay in finalising some of these cases.
"Currently, we have only 31 full-time arbitrators dealing with all labour disputes across the 14 regions. If you look at the ratio, it is not manageable."
The security sector, followed by the fishing sector, construction, and public services, accounts for the largest share of labour disputes, with Walvis Bay in the Erongo region recording the most labour complaints.
The fishing sector has seen massive retrenchments following the 2015 illegal industrial action, leading to the loss of jobs. To mitigate the situation, the Government Employment Redress Program (GERP) was launched in 2020 to reintegrate retrenched fishermen into the fishing industry, although delays and disputes over working hours have so far remained.
The Office of the Labour Commissioner earlier this year hosted regional stakeholder consultations on the proposed Commission for Alternative Dispute Resolution, which will help reduce high caseloads and address staff shortages. The consultations follow the cabinet's approval of a policy framework aimed at establishing a dedicated commission to enhance the handling of labour disputes.
Sihlahla also mentioned that her office shares equal responsibility for registering trade unions and employers' organisations, having deregistered nine organisations.
"Currently, we have 40 trade unions registered, three trade union federations representing the interests of the workers, sixteen employers' organisations and three employers' federations that are also representing the interests of workers."