WINDHOEK – Omaheke Regional Governor Festus Ueitele said he will seek an audience with Trade and Industry Minister Calle Schlettwein over the situation at the Witvlei Meat abattoir, where about 200 workers were retrenched.
The retrenchments are linked to government’s decision to cut the Witvlei quota of meat exports to Norway in favour of bitter rivals Meatco.
“I have an eye on the Witvlei retrenchment,” Ueitele told New Era yesterday.
“I will talk to the Minister of Trade and Industry Calle Schlettwein and other stakeholders to solve the problem.”
He said he would make an effort to prevent any job losses as this will contribute to the already high unemployment rate in the region.
“Many of these employees at the abattoir solely used to survive on these salaries and this will not only affect them but everyone in the family, including schoolchildren,” he said.
Last month Witvlei Meat sent its entire workforce of some 200 home with their last pay cheque and a promise of full remuneration when Witvlei Meat is paid the N$50 million it is now demanding from its Norwegian shareholder, Nortura. Since then Witvlei Meat has taken its partner to the high court in Oslo.
The quota allocation was previously divided on a 50/50 basis between Witvlei Meat and the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco). However, government changed the allocation with the introduction of a new bidding process based on specific cabinet criteria.
The allocation for the Norwegian market was changed in December 2013 when Witvlei Meat got 350 tonnes, while Meatco received 1 200 tonnes and Brukkaros Meat Processors (BMP) was awarded 100 tonnes.
BMP did however not obtain an export permit.