Windhoek – Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has told workers that continuous training and self-improvement are no longer a choice but a necessity in today’s rapidly changing world of work.
She made the remarks on Thursday at the International Workers’ Day commemoration held in Opuwo in the Kunene region, where Namibia joined the rest of the world in marking Labour Day on 1 May 2026.
Nandi-Ndaitwah told the gathering that in-service training and self-capacity building are essential tools for both personal growth and national development. She also spoke about the importance of literacy programmes and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring every Namibian child has access to quality education, saying a knowledge-based society begins with a strong foundation in basic education. 
The President called for an end to the long-standing practice of dividing labour into “skilled” and “unskilled” categories, arguing that all forms of work require competence, development and recognition.
She told workers and employers that national prosperity depends on strong, cooperative relationships between the two sides, and that neither can succeed without the other.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also directed trade unions to broaden their mandate beyond pushing for better wages and working conditions, urging them to actively champion continuous learning, reskilling and upskilling among their members.
This year’s commemoration was held under the theme “Namibian Workers Demand Continuous In-Service Training for Increased Productivity, National Economic Growth and Better Living Conditions,”
