The NEF is the oldest and largest Employers’ Organisation in Namibia, founded in 1994 and recognised Internationally in terms of the International Labour Organisation’s requirements as “The Most Representative “ employers organisation in Namibia.Thus the NEF is recognised by the Government and represents employers on various statutory bodies such as, the Labour Advisory Council, the Social Security Commission, and the Board of the National Training Authority etc.The NEF is also recognised Internationally being a member of the International Organisation of Employers, Business Africa and the SADC Private Sector Forum.The NEF represents employers by lobbying, promoting Advocacy, offering training on labour issues, HIV/Aids work place programmes, Occupational Safety and Health, and advising members with respect to all these matters.Membership of the NEF is currently in excess of 4,000 members country wide, and is open to any registered Namibian employer irrespective of the shareholding structure, or ownership. A scaled annual fee is payable.

he first quarter of this year is over and as we head into winter, the NEF is evaluating

progress made so far this year.

We are very aware of the need to serve our members and the greater business community. We are planning more training courses and looking seriously at establishing the first branch of the NEF in the South/Coast.

Please keep us informed as to your needs, requirements or concerns and we will do our utmost to address them.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the AGM on 16th April at the Hotel Safari Conference Centre.

Our Chairperson

Elize Fahl, NEF Chairperson

T

Elevators are one of the safest modes of transportation! However, with the increase of elevator accidents and related fatalities worldwide (Namibia had 2 incidents in the last 3 years), we need to ask ourselves, are our employees and visitors safe when using elevators on our premises?

In most cases, maintenance of elevators is done by the supplier or contracted out to a maintenance company, but as users of elevators are we guaranteed that quality maintenance is being

.. ELEVATORS continued pg.2

Elevator Safety

performed by competent personnel? The Namibian Health and Safety Regulation 156 states:

The user of an elevator shall, to the satisfaction of an inspector, appoint a competent person, or a firm which employs such a competent person, to inspect:

• Not less than once a week: the guides and ropes, the engine or motor, the drums and sheaves, and the safety appliances; and

• Not less than once a month: the entire elevator plant and the fittings and appliances of an elevator used

by the user.

• A report of the result of an examina-tion or of any repairs or alterations carried out shall, without delay, be recorded in the elevator record book and shall be signed by the person who made the examination or carried out the repairs or alterations and by the person who made the entry

• If, as a result of an examination, a defect is discovered which is liable to cause danger to any person using the elevator, the person performing the examination shall immediately report the matter to the user, who shall prevent any person from using the elevator until the defect has been rectified.

• Take any reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of any person using the elevator;

• Cause all safety devices to be maintained in good working condi-tion and to be used properly and correctly;

• Stop the operation of the elevator if it is in any way defective or if its use appears to have become, or is likely to become, dangerous;

Note: "user" means an occupier of a building, or the person or persons owning or leasing the machinery concerned.

For more information on elevator safety please contact Redette at NEF 061- 244089.

Members of:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

UPCOMING AGMAGM: 16th April commenc-ing at 15H00 at the Hotel Safari. Guest of Honour: Brent Wilton, the Secretary General of the International Organisation of Employers.

What training do you need?

Managing discipline? Managing absenteeism? Job evaluation? Managing

employee relations? OSH? Etc. etc.

Let us know and we will do our best to meet your requirements.

do you need?

Managing discipline? Managing absenteeism? Job evaluation? Managing

employee relations? OSH? Etc. etc.

Let us know and we will do our best to meet your requirements.

NEWSLETTER March 2013

NEF Mission: To promote sound Labour Relations in the interest of stable socio-economic growth and to promote the growth of sustainable employment in Namibia.

IN T

HIS

IS

SU

E:

NTA Train-ing Levypg2

Elevator Safety pg1

The NEF welcomes Thomas Weberpg2

Are PPEs digging into your profitspg3

Alternative Dispute Resolutionpg3

Elevators are one of the safest modes of transportation! However, with the increase of elevator accidents and related fatalities worldwide (Namibia had 2 incidents in the last 3 years), we need to ask ourselves, are our employees and visitors safe when using elevators on our premises?

In most cases, maintenance of elevators is done by the supplier or contracted out to a maintenance company, but as users of elevators are we guaranteed that quality maintenance is being

performed by competent personnel? The Namibian Health and Safety Regulation 156 states:

The user of an elevator shall, to the satisfaction of an inspector, appoint a competent person, or a firm which employs such a competent person, to inspect:

• Not less than once a week: the guides and ropes, the engine or motor, the drums and sheaves, and the safety appliances; and

• Not less than once a month: the entire elevator plant and the fittings and appliances of an elevator used

by the user.

• A report of the result of an examina-tion or of any repairs or alterations carried out shall, without delay, be recorded in the elevator record book and shall be signed by the person who made the examination or carried out the repairs or alterations and by the person who made the entry

• If, as a result of an examination, a defect is discovered which is liable to cause danger to any person using the elevator, the person performing the examination shall immediately report the matter to the user, who shall prevent any person from using the elevator until the defect has been rectified.

• Take any reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of any person using the elevator;

• Cause all safety devices to be maintained in good working condi-tion and to be used properly and correctly;

• Stop the operation of the elevator if it is in any way defective or if its use appears to have become, or is likely to become, dangerous;

Note: "user" means an occupier of a building, or the person or persons owning or leasing the machinery concerned.

For more information on elevator safety please contact Redette at NEF 061- 244089.

061-244089 nefenquiries@nef.com.na

ELEVATORS continued from page 1

The NEF welcomes Thomas Weber, technical adviser, seconded to us for two years by the GIZ. Thomas has wide business experience and has worked with the Chamber of Commerce in East London (Western Cape) and also Kabul (Afghanistan). He will be working on the Global Compact Network handling Public Private Partnership projects and looking at developing new projects and services for our members.

The NEF Welcomes Thomas WeberNTA TRAINING LEVYSince our last edition there have been more developments in this direction. Many of the NEF members have expressed their concern at some aspects

Firstly at the 1.5% levy which is amongst the highest in the SADC region. It is of note that Mauritius, one of the most successful countries in the region, has a mere 0.5% levy. Others range between 1% and 1.5%, while the Zambia Private Sector successfully persuaded their Government to drop such a levy.

Secondly, it is felt that the lower entry level of N$ 350,000 is in today’s econo-my too low and will include many small companies who cannot afford the cost in monetary terms as well as time.

Thirdly, the system for claiming back is not clear and as currently understood, will most certainly not encourage training by employers.

Fourth, it is suspected that the fund will build up massive reserves and then be unable to distribute them with the effect of again discouraging training.

The NEF will shortly be distributing a questionnaire regarding this planned levy and we request all NEF members to offer their comments.

March 2013 pg 2

Is buying Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) digging into your profits?

Whenever I do inspections / risk assessments at companies, more often than not I notice that the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) i.e. boots, hardhats,

earplugs etc, are at the front line of controlling hazards in the workplace.

PPE is the least effective method of controlling occupational hazards and should be used only when other methods cannot control hazards sufficiently. PPE can be

uncomfortable, can decrease work performance and can create new health and safety hazards. For example, ear protectors can prevent you from hearing warning signals, respirators can make it harder to breathe, earplugs may cause infection and leaky gloves can trap hazardous chemicals against the skin (source ILO).

PPE should be acceptable only when an employer cannot control hazards with engineer-ing controls. However, if it is impossible to reduce hazards so that there is no health risk to workers, then PPE must be used. Employers should look at the following diagram before resorting to PPE which could be very costly in the long run.

For more information on Risk Assessments please contact Redette at NEF 061- 244089.A diagram of the hierarchy of hazard control, with the most effective methods at the top and the least effective at the bottom.

Yours in safety: OSH Desk

Industrial UnrestMany people, not least the NEF Board and Members, have become worried at the volume of labour disputes that occurred at the end of last year. The Labour Advisory Council is also concerned at these developments and is trying to arrange some research in

to what and why things have been going wrong.

We have submitted a draft Terms of Reference for a consultant to do the research to the LAC and hope that funding will be made available and that very soon we will see

research in progress.It is incumbent on all of us to

ensure that our previously good track record of labour relations does not do any permanent harm to the Namibian international image and to the economy.

Alternative Dispute Resolution SystemsHere we are not only referring to Labour issues and the Arbitration at the Labour Commissioner’s office, but arbitration in general.

At a recent conference in Cape Town, the Secretary General attended a focussed session on this subject led by an Advocate based at the University of Stellenbosch.

The concept is that in the medium term a series of national arbitration bodies exists. The members of such national bodies should all have clearly defined qualifica-tions and experience, and that fees would be standardised.

Thus any person or company in any African country which is a partner to the proposed agreement, would be able to recruit an arbitrator of an agreed standard to carry out local or international work, from anywhere.

The concept is very much in the early stages, but appears to have a lot of support. Countries present at the confer-ence were Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Currently, the NEF will act as the focal point for the project. Various persons already involved in arbitration within Namibia are being asked for comment and input.

We will have to give feedback as to our commitment into the future by the end of May, and will keep you informed as to progress. If in the meantime you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretary General.

occurred at the end of last year. The Labour Advisory Council is also concerned at these developments and is trying to arrange some research in

to what and why things have been going wrong.

We have submitted a draft Terms of Reference for a consultant to do the research to the LAC and hope that funding will be made available and that very soon we will see

research in progress.It is incumbent on all of us to

ensure that our previously good track record of labour relations does not do any permanent harm to the Namibian international image and to the economy.

session on this subject led by an Advocate based at the University of

The concept is that in the medium term a series of national arbitration bodies exists. The members of such national bodies should all have clearly defined qualifica-tions and experience, and that fees

Thus any person or company in any African country which is a partner to the proposed agreement, would be able to recruit an arbitrator of an agreed standard to carry out local or international work, from anywhere.

The concept is very much in the early stages, but appears to have a lot of support. Countries present at the confer-ence were Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Currently, the NEF will act as the focal point for the project. Various persons already involved in arbitration

061-244089 nefenquiries@nef.com.na

Labour Act information booklets in Afrikaans and Oshiwambo are currently available. Otjiherero and more in English will be available SOON.

March 2013 pg 3