The Secretary General of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), Job Muniaro, has called for greater honesty in addressing challenges affecting workers and employers, pointing to discipline and skills development as major concerns.
Speaking on the sidelines during a meeting at State House, Muniaro said issues such as late coming, delays in completing tasks, and lack of respect for work continue to affect productivity and slow economic growth.
He also raised concerns about inadequate training, reskilling and upskilling, noting that some companies fail to properly equip employees with the knowledge needed to perform effectively.
Muniaro noted that skills transfer and proper training are critical for productivity and safety, warning that untrained workers in critical roles could pose serious risks.
"Those are things that actually play a role in terms of growth. That makes the worker proud and makes the company his own because he knows what to do. Some of those things need to be done with efficacy in order for us to make sure you are at your best. You can't have a driver who has just got a licence yesterday and give him an ambulance to drive; you actually put the patient at risk. That person needs to be trained, properly trained, and become a specialist driver in the experience of driving patients. So skills transfer and upskilling play a bigger role in the operational way."
Muniaro highlighted tensions between workers and employers over wages, explaining that demands for salary increases are often not matched by improvements in skills and productivity.
He stressed the need for a collective effort to build capacity, improve knowledge and strengthen workforce competence, adding that such cooperation is essential for both company growth and the broader economy.
The trade unionist also underscored the importance of value addition within Namibia, cautioning against exporting raw materials only to re-import finished products at higher costs due to a lack of local expertise.
Muniaro urged investment in skill development to ensure the country retains value, creates jobs and strengthens its economic independence.