At the beginning of November 2025, a team of national experts and social partners convened in Swakopmund, Namibia, to advance the drafting of the country's third National Employment Policy (NEP). The technical workshop brought together participants from across government institutions, led by the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, with the active participation of social partners representing workers and employers. Their shared goal was to shape a policy framework that accelerates decent job creation, supports enterprise development, and ensures inclusive and sustainable growth.
© ILO
The new policy marks a significant step in Namibia's continued evolution in employment policymaking. The first NEP, adopted in 1997, focused on post-independence economic stabilisation and early labour market reforms, while the second NEP (2013-2017) aimed to achieve "sustainable, productive and decent employment and incomes for all Namibians," emphasising agriculture-led industrialisation, small and medium enterprise growth, renewable energy and green jobs, and improved social protection. Building on these foundations, the third NEP seeks to strengthen policy coherence across government and to align employment objectives with Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and other key national frameworks.
The drafting process was supported financially and technically by the Global Accelerator on Jobs, Social Protection and Just Transitions in Namibia, part of a broader United Nations initiative to promote integrated employment and social protection interventions. The International Labour Organisation (ILO), through its Employment Specialist Jealous Chirove, provided policy guidance and technical expertise during the drafting sessions.
Participants examined the structural challenges of unemployment and informality, the need for labour market data to inform decisions, and opportunities to leverage emerging sectors such as the green and digital economy.
The new policy is designed to be forward-looking, prioritising youth employment, macroeconomic policies, skills development, and sustainable enterprise growth as central drivers of decent work.
The development process is now well advanced. The draft policy will undergo public consultations in early 2026, ensuring inclusivity and national ownership, before being submitted to Cabinet for approval later in the year. Once adopted, the NEP will serve as a key instrument to guide Namibia's efforts to transform growth into meaningful, productive, and decent employment for all.
