with a view to improve their quality of life and to enable them to contribute to community and national development. 43. ARTICLE 13: ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS Parliament enacted the following legislation to guarantee equal rights for women and men in employment:     Affirmative Action (Employment) Act, Act No. 29 of 1998. The aims and objectives of the Act are to redress the imbalances at the workplace, arising from the discriminatory socio-economic dispensation which had previously existed in the country. The Act is intended to foster fair employment practices with regard to matters such as recruitment, selection, appointment, training, promotion, and equitable remuneration for previously disadvantaged persons, such as blacks, women and persons with disabilities, referred to as designated groups in the Act. The Act is very specific about requirements, which must be met by employers to whom its provisions apply. Amongst some of the requirements of the Act is the drafting of a three year Affirmative Action plan in close consultation with employees, which is submitted in the form of an Affirmative Action report to the Employment Equity Commission at prescribed intervals. The main purpose of submitting Affirmative Action Plan/Reports to the Employment Equity Commission is to enable the commission to assess the extent to which employment equity through the elimination of employment barriers against persons in designated groups are achieved and to ensure that all categories of employment within the workforce of every relevant employer reflect the national demographic profile of the citizens in the country. The Labour Act, Act No 11 of 2007. The aim of the Act is to ensure that all employees enjoy the same basic rights and protections. This includes the need to prevent unfair discrimination against women and to ensure that both male and female employees are able to care for family members. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has established a directorate of Small-andMedium-Sized Enterprises (SME). The directorate disseminates SME information to Namibians all over the country. The aims and objectives of the SME Portal Site are to develop local economy through sales promotion of SMEs, facilitating the establishment business to enhance the livelihoods of the local communities. - 57 -