An Assessment of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and its Implications for Namibia
The United States introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2000 with the intention of maximising trade between the US and sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Specifically, AGOA aimed at developing the textile industry in SSA countries as it has the potential to contribute positively to employment creation due to its labour intensiveness nature. Unlike other trade agreements that are bilateral, AGOA is a unilateral trade preference agreement decided upon by the United States and targeting SSA countries. AGOA accords the President of the United States the right to cease the status of a SSA country that does not meet the requirements set out in AGOA. Only eligible sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries that meet certain requirements outlined in the Act can benefit under AGOA. Under AGOA, certain goods from eligible SSA countries can enter the United States duty free and quota free. The introduction of AGOA led to increased trade between the USA and the SSA countries. However, the increase in trade was not experienced at the same level in all SSA countries and did not affect all goods equally. Trade statistics show that countries that experienced substantial growth in trade included Nigeria, Angola and South Africa, Gabon and Chad. Furthermore, products dominating trade between United States and SSA countries are natural resources and primary products. Overall, petroleum products account for more the 90 per cent of all African exports to the United States. In other SSA countries, AGOA led to the development of textile industries. Thus countries like Swaziland, Lesotho and Malawi experienced a substantial growth in their textile industries. Despite the significant growth experienced by the above-mentioned countries, total exports to the US from African countries are still dominated by petroleum products. In Namibia, products that dominate exports to the US are metals, minerals, textiles and apparel. The highest overall exports of US$ 238 219 million were recorded in 2004 and dropped significantly to US $129 557 million in 2005. The reduction in exports was also experienced in the textile industry in Namibia and in many SSA countries. For instance, many textile producing SSA countries experienced a decrease in their textile exports and subsequently company closures, which led to loss of thousands of jobs. In Namibia alone, about 1 600 jobs were lost when one of Ramatex’s subsidiaries (Rhino Garments) closed down in 2005. Namibia became a beneficiary country in 2001 and qualified for the ‘special rule’ provision on apparel articles which allows lesser developed SSA countries to source their raw materials from anywhere in the world. Only countries that had been classified as lesser-developed countries on the basis that their GDP per capita did not exceed $1500 could benefit from this provision. Before, 2001, Namibia did not have a developed textile and apparel industry but this changed with the introduction of AGOA coupled with many government concessions, which largely influenced the Ramatex company decision to invest in Namibia. Ramatex is by far the largest textile factory in Namibia and was expected to create about 8 000 jobs, a reason which was used to justify the concessions offered to Ramatex. Following retrenchments in 2005 and 2006, there are currently only 3 600 Namibian workers employed at Ramatex. Despite having increased workers wages in 2006 following lengthy negotiations and a strike, Ramatex workers are still among the lowest paid industrial workers in Namibia. Furthermore, since its inception, labour relations have been tense at the company with the lack of wage increases as the main source of conflict. This study revealed that there are internal and external challenges that face the success of AGOA in SSA countries. The internal challenges relate to the ability of companies to fully benefit under AGOA due to internal capacity constraints whilst external constraints are the end of the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) coupled with the attractions offered by China as an investment location.
Ntwala Mwilima and Herbert Jauch
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2007
© Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
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Chinese Investments in Namibia: A Labour Perspective
This study forms part of a broader 10-country case study on Chinese investments in Africa, coordinated and implemented by the African Labour Research Network (ALRN). African trade union leaders identified the topic as a priority area for the labour movement and the ALRN study thus aims to provide them with up-to date information on the impact of Chinese investments for African workers. In Namibia, the national congress of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) in 2006 passed a resolution asking the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) to carry out a study into Chinese investments in Namibia, with particular emphasis on working conditions. We therefore decided to publish our study as a separate booklet for debate in Namibia and hope that it will provide a basis for a sober analysis of the costs and benefits associated with Chinese investments.
Herbert Jauch and Iipumbu Sakaria
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2009
© Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
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Service Station Workers in Namibia
The main objective of the study was to examine the working conditions of workers at service stations countrywide with a particular focus of exploring the possibility of introducing a minimum wage. Specifically the study aimed to: - Examine the working conditions of petrol attendants, including working hours, overtime pay, disciplinary procedures and dismissals; - Determine the wage levels of workers at service stations; - Explore regional differences with regards to wages and working conditions at service stations; - Assess the health and safety risks associated with work at service stations; - Assess the possibilities of introducing a minimum wage in the industry; - Examine the role played by the Association of Service Station Owners; - Investigate trade union recruitment at service stations; - Investigate ownership changes and economic trends at service stations; - Explore the relationship between oil companies and the individual owners of service stations.
Herbert Jauch and Ntwala Mwilima
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2008
© Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
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Playing the Globalisation Game: The Implications of Economic Liberalisation for Namibia
Namibia‟s investment policies are largely shaped by the process of globalisation and the neo-liberal line of thought which claims that developing countries have to attract investment by offering increasing concessions to foreign investors. This is reflected in the Government‟s policy on Export Processing Zones (EPZs). However, the manufacturing sector is still underdeveloped and Namibia continues to be a net exporter of capital. The figures for the last 5 years reveal that the foreign investment received is significantly lower than the capital leaving the country each year. Last year (2000),for example, Namibia received capital inflows of 795 million N$, but more than 2 billion N$ left the country. About two thirds of the foreign investment that Namibia receives goes into the capital-intensive mining sector without contributing significantly to employment creation. Unless this trend can be reversed, there is little prospect for the development of a significant manufacturing sector in Namibia.
Herbert Jauch
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2001
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Asian Migrant Workers at Ramatex
This report presents the key findings of a pilot research project on Asian migrant workers working at Ramatex, conducted from 31st August 04 to 4th October 2004. This pilot research was funded by the International Labor Rights Fund, and jointly facilitated by the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) and the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF).
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2005
© Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
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Ramatex: On the other side of the fence
This booklet will not discuss all aspects in detail but will give a brief overview of Namibia's EPZ programme as well as a profile of the Ramatex Company. The main part of this booklet deals with the experiences of Ramatex workers. All too often their views are discarded by policy makers who simply argue that ‘workers should be grateful to have any job at all’. We believe that development must be a people-centred process that cannot ignore the views of those directly affected. We therefore hope that this booklet will contribute towards making the experiences of Ramatex workers known. This booklet will present their stories as they have told them. We also hope that this booklet will contribute to a debate about the costs and benefits of investments like Ramatex in terms of long-term sustainable development.
Herbert Jauch and Hilma Shindondola
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2003
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Namibia’s Informal Economy: Possibilities for Trade Union Intervention
The main aim of the study was to examine the possibilities for trade union intervention in the informal economy. A total of 488 interviews were conducted with operators and workers, as well as trade unionists and informal economy associations in order to ascertain the working conditions and possibilities for trade unions intervention. The study covered employment relations, working conditions, incomes, knowledge and membership of trade unions and informal economy associations. A literature review was conducted to help broaden the understanding of the nature of the informal economy.
Ntwala Mwilima
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2006
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Uranium Mining in Namibia: The Mystery Behind 'Low Level Radiation'
The increase in uranium mining projects will certainly lead to more employment opportunities for Namibia and for The Erongo region in particular and there will be potential inflow of migrants into Erongo. Based on conversations with some residents of Arandis a number of people have already moved into Arandis after The opening of The Langer Heinrich uranium mine and other exploration projects taking place in The area - The pressure on The provision of facilities and services such as housing,schools, and hospitals will increase. It is therefore expected that The national and regional government expect companies to assist in improving existing basic services and setting up additional infrastructures as part of The conditions for investment - on The other hand, despite its contribution to GDP, mining has short-term benefits, but long-term consequences - Our findings reveal that The negative effects on The health and social organization of The community of Arandis are already astonishing - Namibia therefore needs a clear strategy to evaluate The sustainability, ethics and responsibility of external investment in The extractive sectors. with The support of civil society and The community, The government should be able to develop The capacity to design appropriate strategies on how to deal with uranium as a mineral resource
Hilma Shindondola-Mote
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2009
© Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
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