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afrol.com, 12 October - The Namibian Cabinet at its 31st Ordinary Session authorised the Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation, N. Angula, to draft a Bill for the establishment of the National Council on Employment Creation. In Namibia, the non-formal sector caters from some 60% of the population. In his submission to Cabinet, the Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment creation reminded Cabinet of its decision of 15 August 2000 to create a National Council on Employment Creation. The Minister stressed that unemployment in Namibia is one of the national challenges, which must be addressed with urgency and seriousness before it becomes a social destabiliser. He mentioned that unemployment, together with poverty could reverse the gains of democracy and independence. - There is, therefore, urgency for joint efforts by government, parastatals, the private sector and the non-formal sector to address the scourge of unemployment, Minister Angula stated. He said that government cannot create employment, but it is an important catalyst for job creation. Government may direct its resources towards projects that could employ labour-based strategies. On the other hand, the Minister noted, the private sector is well poised as the creator of wealth. Unfortunately, the Namibian private sector concentrates on the exploitation of raw materials, trading activities and the provision of services, while the manufacturing sector, which could create employment for Namibia’s youthful and growing population, is being neglected. The non-formal sector caters from some 60% of the population. Its participation in the cash generating economic activities has been hampered by historical neglect. Strategies must, therefore, be devised to invigorate the non-formal sector. In his Cabinet submission the Minister indicated that the National Council on Employment Creation should be composed of representatives from government, the private sector and the non-formal sector. Government representatives should be drawn from economic ministries and ministries dealing with training, while the private sector should be represented by employers organisations and workers unions. The non-formal sector should be represented by civil society (churches, traders, women, youth organisations etc.). The Minister proposed that the National Council on Employment Creation should consist of between 10 to 20 members, served by a chief executive officer and supported by staff who could deal with research on employment, monitoring of projects supported by the Council, monitoring of training done at the work place and coordination with government institutions. The Council should control the Employment Fund and allocate resources from the Fund to worthy projects for employment creation.
Source: Namibian Government
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