Youth leader Donna Gamatham has accused companies in Namibia of exploiting interns by hiring them for cheap labor. With a high unemployment rate in the country, young people have little bargaining power and are often forced to accept poor internship conditions. Gamatham emphasized that internships should aim to make young people more employable, not just provide cheap labor. She called for clearer standards around learning objectives, supervision, and working conditions for interns.
National Students Organisation (Nanso) president Secilia Ambunda agrees that graduates who complete their qualifications while interning should not be sent back into the job market. Instead, they should be considered for permanent employment where opportunities exist. Ambunda believes there should be a clear distinction between internships and professional employment, with a process to help qualified interns transition into permanent positions. This would prevent graduates from being left without opportunities after gaining qualifications while working as interns.
Ambunda also suggests that the government's work-integrated learning policy should be reviewed to strengthen the transition of interns into full-time employment. She emphasizes the need for an "absorbing process" into full-time employment, ensuring that interns are not left without opportunities after completing their qualifications. This policy review would help address concerns over graduates remaining in internships despite already holding qualifications.
An intern, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed frustration over the current internship system. The intern notes that graduates can struggle to obtain exemptions from internships despite having professional experience. They question why qualified graduates are expected to work the same hours as permanent employees while receiving significantly lower allowances, often N$3 000 or less.
The intern also raises concerns about the lack of proper supervision and clear professional development opportunities in some internships. This raises questions about whether some internships provide meaningful training or simply cheap labor. The intern's concerns are echoed by Gamatham and Ambunda, who are pushing for better conditions and clearer standards for interns.
President of the Namibia Employers’ Federation (NEF) Elias Shikongo offers a different perspective, stating that obtaining a qualification does not automatically mean a graduate is ready to meet the practical and quality requirements of a particular job. He notes that there can be a gap between academic training and workplace requirements, meaning an internship may sometimes need to be extended to give a graduate sufficient practical experience and confidence.
The issue of internship exploitation has sparked a necessary conversation about the need for clearer standards and better conditions for interns in Namibia. As the country grapples with high unemployment, it is essential to ensure that internships provide meaningful training and opportunities for young people, rather than simply cheap labor.
Key points
- Companies in Namibia have been accused of exploiting interns by hiring them for cheap labor.
- Youth leaders are calling for clearer standards around learning objectives, supervision, and working conditions for interns.
- There is a need for a process to help qualified interns transition into permanent positions.
