Staff Reporter
The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) and Cheetah Cement yesterday reached a wage agreement to end the three-month strike that has crippled the Otjiwarongo-based plant.
Eighty employees of Cheetah Cement, which is the trading name of the Chinese-owned company Whale Rock Cement (WRC), have been striking for the last three months, after the company and the MUN failed to reach an agreement in negotiations about wage increases and improved conditions of service.
“We would like to place on record that the company’s generous offer is not based on an admission of affordability but rather a commitment to bring an end to the prolonged wage dispute,” WRC general manager Kevin Lee said in a statement yesterday.
The agreement will see workers receiving a salary increment of N$1 000 across the board backdated to January this year. The increase will be implemented with the return of workers to work and will be calculated on a pro-rata basis for the payment at the end of this month, whereby payment of the full amount shall be made at the end of December. Striking workers are expected to resume work today.
The agreement will also see workers receiving N$1 000 increase in housing allowance across board which is currently calculated at 5% of each employee’s basic salary.
Other increases include the company paying 80% of the main member’s medical aid contribution, introduction of a new pension fund which will be introduced in January and a back-pay of 12 months which will be calculated on the basic salary increase of N$1 000 across the board which will be paid within 14 days after the final signature of the wage agreement.
Agreement… The Mineworkers Union of Namibia and Cheetah Cement yesterday reached a wage agreement to end the protracted strike. Photo: Nampa