The majority of the population does not qualify for loans from financial institutions to finance the purchase of property. However, ownership of fixed property is subject to the possibility of expropriation by the Government only if it is entitled to do so by a law which applies to everyone. During the past two years, the National Planning Commission through its programme of Rural Poverty Reduction has been assisting the Namibia Housing Action Group (NAHAG) and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia by providing them with grants to build low cost houses for their members in urban as well as rural areas. Since July 2009, approximately 3,600 members received support, 80% of whom were women. 17. ARTICLE 15: ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS OF WORK Section 128 of the Labour Act, Act No 11 of 2007 was by the Labour Amendment Act, Act no. 2 of 2012. The amendment of the Labour Act was necessary to prohibit discrimination between workers of labour hire companies and workers directly employed by the companies outsourcing services to labour hire companies. The new law protects labour hire workers against exploitative practices that they had endured over the past years. The Labour Amendment Act further makes provision for a presumption as to who is an employee in terms of section 128 (A) and a presumption of indefinite employment in terms of section 128 (C). These presumptions protect employees against the principles of independent contractor and that of casual worker. The Labour Act was translated in various indigenous languages and in Mandarin (Chinese language). 18. ARTICLE 16: THE RIGHT TO HEALTH Access to health facilities, especially for the most marginalised communities has improved over the past two years. Special projects have been initiated under the Office of the Prime Minister’s programme for San and other marginalized communities across the country. Access to health care and information about health and nutrition services for remote, rural and poor communities has also been improved through the introduction of a number of - 40 -

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