The Namibian Employers and Trade Union Labour Migration Network (NETUMN) is proud to announce its official launch following the successful establishment of the NETUMN network during the meeting held in Walvis Bay from September 19th to 21st, 2023. This significant milestone comes after intensive discussions and collaboration among 30 participants, including representatives from employers, government officials, and trade unions, with a gender-balanced composition of 11 females and 19 males.

NETUMN emerges as a crucial platform formed under the endorsement of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Southern African Migration Management (SAMM), dedicated to supporting the implementation of Namibia’s Labour Migration Policy both domestically and internationally.

The network’s core objective is to actively engage in labour migration issues at the national level and foster cooperation among member nations to enhance governance in this critical area. NETUMN will prioritize areas such as social protection, freedom of association, collective bargaining, employment advancement, and skill recognition, recognizing these as vital components for ensuring the rights and well-being of all workers, including migrant workers.

NETUMN has been entrusted with the fundamental responsibility of identifying precise domains for future collaboration between unions and employers concerning labour migration. These include advocating for a migrant system that safeguards and advances the rights of all workers, combatting hate speech, and addressing labour shortages through strategic recognition and planning.

We are thrilled to declare the official launch ofNETUMN and extend a warm appreciation  to all stakeholders present. Your participation will be instrumental in fortifying the collaboration, advocacy, and implementation of Namibia’s labour migration policies that will enhance the capacity of NETUMN network members in various critical areas related to labour migration and migrant worker support to promote decent work and social protection for all migrant workers within our borders and abroad.