By: Dwight Links
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations says that the Court of International Justice’s (ICJ) opinion on the ‘Right to Strike’ is already protected in the Namibian constitution.
The ministry’s executive director, Ben Nangombe, said that Namibia does not have to duplicate what is already made clear.
“For Namibia, the decision simply reaffirms what our open laws have already codified and guaranteed through the supreme law of the land, the constitution, and the subsequent Labour Act 2007 – Act No. 11 of 2007 – which recognises and protects the right to strike,” Nangombe explained.
The ministry described this advisory opinion by the court as an “Authoritative guidance on how the Convention must be understood by all ILO members.”
According to the ministry, the country aims to remain committed to upholding international labour standards and strengthening social dialogue.
According to Nangombe, the Namibian government looks to resume work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Committee on the Application of Standards, with “renewed confidence at the International Labour Conference later this month.”
The ICJ was approached by the ILO in 2023 for an advisory opinion on the ILO Convention of 1948 and Article 87 of it.
“The court is of the opinion that the right to strike of workers and their organisations is protected under the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87),” stated the court.
