WALVIS BAY – Unions representing workers in the fishing industry expressed disappointment in ministers who spoke against salary increments for workers.
This was while they are about to finalise negotiations for the fishing industry workers.
The disappointed unions say that it was a reckless move by the fisheries minister Derek Klazen and labour minister Utoni Nujoma to engage the industry while they are about to finalise the salary increments.
They said others already concluded and agreed on increases that will see factory workers getting not more than N$300 increment and fishermen getting about N$500.
Klazen and Nujoma on Friday met with a few fishing industry players who indicated that they are facing challenges with the current high fuel prices and are trying their level best not to retrench workers.
According to the unions, each and every Namibian is feeling the pinch of the fuel cost that also increase the current food prices and makes it impossible for those making less than N$5 000 per month not to demand an increment.
Nujoma, during the meeting, indicated that all sectors in Namibia are facing turbulent times as they were hit by the fuel increase on the heels of Covid-19.
“Not only fuel has increased but food prices too and the industry must make money in order for them to pay workers. That is why we decided to consult the industry and see what strategies we can adopt in order to minimise this challenge,” he said.
Nujoma said they learned during deliberations that some unions are demanding increments for workers.
“We always try to engage with our unions and we are hearing that they are demanding for an increment in this particular time. It is legitimate to look after the best interest of our workers but sometimes in unforeseen crisis like this, it is need that we sit around the table and that is why we are here,” Nujoma told journalists after their meeting with the hake sector.
This, however, did not sit well with the unionists who called out the minister for not consulting with all stakeholders at the same time.
Reckless
“It was a reckless move and a sellout. They were nowhere to be seen when we wanted to consult but they came only to consult with a few individuals,” Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna) president Paulus Hango said yesterday.
According to Hango, the fishing industry was declared an essential service during Covid-19 and did not suffer any significant loses as they operated during the pandemic.
He added that most of the sectors, despite the fuel increases, already agreed on an increment for their workers.
“Hence there is no need for them to try and intervene,” Hango said.
Tucna secretary general Mahongora Kavihuha also said workers need to be given an increment in crisis so that more money can be spend and circulated in the economy.
“In fact, government must give increments and the fishing industry must follow suit,” he said.
Disappointing
President of the Namibia Fishing Industries and Fishermen Workers Union, Daniel Imbili also said he is disappointed the ministers only met with some despite the unions reaching out on numerous occasions to them.
“We are waiting for them to call us. How can they meet with only one sector while they know the horse mackerel sector is the one that is facing challenges that could lead to closure? Yet they are saying it’s a tripartite agreement, I am deeply disappointed,” Imbili said.
He also said they signed wage agreements with several companies and will sign another one on Wednesday with the Princess brand.
“It shows that they do not really know what is going on and would rather listen to the industry instead of consulting with the unions. We all know that the fishing industry, especially the bigger companies, did not struggle during Covid-19 as they were declared essential services.
We even signed an agreement with them that allowed fishermen not to disembark vessels to ensure that the fishing industry operations at sea are not affected. As for the current fuel cost, why should workers cushion the increment while they in many cases make way less that N$5 000?” Imbili asked.