WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation launched Namibia’s Annual Productivity Awareness Campaign Week on Monday.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Utoni Nujoma explained that the purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness among the Namibian workforce and the general public about the advantages and significance of productivity.
“A nation’s wealth is not measured solely by the abundance of material possessions but rather by the collective effort of its people to create, innovate and contribute to the betterment of society. Productivity is the cornerstone upon which the structure of national prosperity is built. Moreover, productivity is the key source of economic growth and competitiveness,” he said.
“A country’s ability to improve its standard of living depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker,” Nujoma said.
“When we speak of productivity, we speak of the innovation that leads to groundbreaking discoveries, the diligence that transforms raw materials into valuable goods, and the creativity that gives rise to new industries. Growth in labour productivity is directly attributable to fluctuations in physical capital, new technology, and human capital,” he said.
“Physical capital is the tools, equipment and facilities that workers have to use to produce goods, while new technologies are new methods to combine inputs to produce more outputs, such as assembly lines or automation, whereas human capital represents the increase in education and specialisation of the workforce.”
He said the ministry first launched the Productivity Awareness Raising Week in October 2018 to raise awareness about the importance of productivity to individuals, organisations, and the Namibian nation at large.
This year’s productivity week is being held in the Erongo Region at the Erongo Expo in Swakopmund under the theme ‘A productive nation is a wealthy nation’.
Meanwhile, Minister Nujoma called on the public to follow activities on the ministry’s social media platforms and visit their exhibition stand at Erongo Expo for more information about the importance of productivity and its benefits to our country.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency