Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) Worker’s Education
LABOUR STUDIES CERTIFICATES
Worker Education Program
Shop steward Training [Certificate of Attendance]
Description: a basic shop steward training to prepare them how to gravitate in labour industry to protect the interests of the constituency they serve in, confidence and morale boosting. The training covers union constitution, workers’ rights at workplace, basic conditions of employment, shop stewards’ functions and trade unions handling of disciplinary matters, dispute of rights, dispute of interest, collective bargaining and negotiations.
Labour Study certificate [Level 4]
Description: LaRRI Certificate in Labour Study is a course which give an ideological orientation to the participants. It combines knowledge acquisition, analytical skills, strengthen the capacity of workers and their trade unionists. It is one of LaRRI’s flagship programmes. It serves to prepare workers and trade unionists for leadership positions at various levels and consists of 8 modules; English, Computer, Trade union theories and history, Namibia’s political economy, trade union organization and management, affirmative action and Gender, Labor law and collective bargaining and Globalisation.
Diploma in Labour and employment study [Level 5] – Hosted at UNAM
Description: Curriculum design of the DLES was partly sponsored by LaRRI. Students from the Labour Study Certificate feed into the program for continuation.
Southern Africa Labour Education Program [SALEP] – Diploma in Labour Study
Description: The Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) in conjunction with Zimbabwe Labour Center (ZLC), Workers’ College embarked on a deliberate engagement to develop trade unions and federation in Southern Africa and ultimately Africa at large. In pursuance of achieving the resolution, the partner institutions designed a Labour Diploma Program. This Diploma is run in block fashion with some modules centralized whereas others are decentralized.
Training and retraining; Trade specific training
NAM-MIC Financial Holding and LaRRI entered into an agreement to invest in human capital of the working class under the NUNW (National Union of Namibian Workers) with LaRRI acting as a facilitator of the beneficiaries. LaRRI acts as a catalyst to train the working class that are affiliates of sister unions under the National Union for Namibian Workers [NUNW]. NAM-MIC financial holding targeted three thematic areas. Efforts were directed to empower workers in leadership and governance; HIV/AIDS at workplace; training and re-training of workers. This course is envisioned to continue in the next five years.
What is covered in the course?
Module 1: Trade Union History and Theory
The module covers the history of the international labour movement and the different types of trade unions. It also includes the history of May Day and the emergence of trade unions in Southern Africa. Key issues are the history of trade unions in Namibia, labour relations before and after independence, trade unions and politics, and the international trade union movement.>
Module 2: Namibia’s Political Economy
The module explores the concept of “political economy”, Namibia’s pre-colonial, and colonial economy as well as the developments after independence. Emphasis is placed on examining economic and social structures and the formation of social classes. The module also looks at labour migration, the land question in a historical perspective, and the changing family and gender relations in Namibia.
Module 3: Trade Union Organisation and Management
The module deals with human resource development in unions; union administration; including financial administration and budgeting; planning and review of activities; translating vision and mission statements into strategic plans; project management and trade union investments.
Module 4: Affirmative Action and Gender
The module examines gender in Namibia with particular emphasis on gender and law, gender at work and gender in trade unions. The affirmative action section includes a historic overview of the concept and relevant international experiences. It examines affirmative action in the Namibian context, particularly the implementation of the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act.
Module 5: Labour Law and Collective Bargaining
The module examines Namibia’s legal system, and the labour law principles. It examines labour relations and collective bargaining, including various case studies. The module also compares the Labour Act of 1992 with the incoming Act of 2004. Emphasis is placed on dispute resolution, basic conditions of employment and the social security system.
Module 6: Globalisation
This module examines the globalisation process form a historical perspective. It looks at the ideology underpinning globalisation and at the role played by transnational corporations and international financial institutions such as the World Bank and IMF. Other aspects covered are export processing zones, structural adjustment programmes, gender and globalisation, international trade, NEPAD and responses to globalisation.
In addition, the participants will participate in a 2-3 days classes of English for academic purposesand are also offered introductory to computer classes at the Namibia College for Open Learning (NAMCOL). The computer classes are voluntary.
How is the course organised?
The course is structured this way; students are required to spend about 128 hours mandatory prior reading, 279 hours of contact classes, self-study and research, 18 hours for basic computer skills, optional/availed 108 hours for supplementary examination and another 108 hours for assignment.
Classes run from Monday to Friday from 8h30 – 13h00 and Monday of the week after class, the students sit for the module exam. The afternoons is used for additional reading, to revise the work and to prepare assignments.
The participants are required to attend at least 80% of all classes and have to plan their other work accordingly. They will have to come to Windhoek to attend classes and will also have to prepare assignments during that time. A written examination will take place at the end of each module.
How will the course be recognised?
Successful participants/graduates receive a certificate jointly issued by the University of Kwazulu-Natal, the Workers College in South Africa and LaRRI.
LaRRI has formally applied for accreditation with the Namibian National Qualifications Authority (NQA) and the course was accredited at the level of a university certificate in 2007. It is now being listed on the Namibia Qualification Framework. The registration is in process.
How will the course participants be assessed?
Each participant will receive a mark from the tutors for his/her participation during the course, for his/her assignments and his/her examinations. Exams will be written at the end of each module and each student has to write one assignment per module. The final mark will be calculated as follows:
Examination: 50%
Assignments: 40%
Participation: 10%
What are the costs?
According to our experiences over the past years, the real costs of the course are about N$ 12 000 per participant. We cannot expect the participants to pay the full amount and LaRRI has managed to receive support from our partner organisations overseas to subsidise the costs.
Each participants pays acommitment course fees of N$ 1 800. A deposit of N$ 700 has to be paid at registration and the rest can be paid in installments.
Participants are responsible for organising their own transport and accommodation while attending classes in Windhoek. LaRRI provides breakfast, lunch and soft drinks in the course of the day.
Where does the course take place?
The classes’ takes place at a suitable venue near the LaRRI offices in Mungunda Street, Katutura.
Teachers and tutors for the course are drawn from the LaRRI staff, from the University of Namibia, the labour movement, the Ministry of Education and from NGOs. They are contracted in to carry out the teaching and to mark the exams and the assignments.