Social Protection, Inequality, and Youth Unemployment in Namibia – Infringement of the Social Contract?

Are the persistent challenges of precarious employment, job insecurity, and income inequality an infringement of the social contract? Given the current state of affairs in Namibia, where the needs of workers, particularly those in vulnerable positions including the unemployed, are often overlooked, it is compelling to argue that this constitutes a violation of the social contract. Young people face significant barriers to accessing productive assets such as capital, land, and skills, leaving them dependent on the informal economy, where social protection and social security are severely lacking. Their survival initiatives and subsistence efforts are met with discontent from government institutions and other authorities. In recent years there have been several protests related to the exploitation of workers, some of which led to the arrest of protesting youths, while unions remain silent. Drawing from secondary sources and the author’s ongoing research on the world of work and social protection in Namibia, this presentation interrogates these issues. It highlights the struggle of unemployed youth, questioning whether the current social protection framework fulfils the vision of an “inclusive Namibian house” as articulated by the late President Geingob. The aim is to foster dialogue about whether the current situations represent an infringement of the social contract in Namibia and explore ways to tackle these challenges for a more equitable future. It emphasizes the urgent need for social protection reforms that cater to the needs of the youth and unemployed, while reinforcing the integrity of the social contract in Namibia. The paper concludes by reflecting on the “leave no one behind” principle and, how well Namibia’s current social protection efforts align with this principle.