By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa
WINDHOEK – Construction workers at mass housing sites across the country are being mistreated, live in constant fear of being dismissed unfairly, get meagre wages and work without protective clothing, the Metal and Allied Namibia Workers Union (Manwu) General Secretary, Jastina Jonas, said yesterday.
“We are disturbed by the fact that many third parties within the project are causing high labour unrest and discomfort among the working young men and women employed in this project,” Manwu’s Jonas said in a press statement. The union says issues of health and safety are not made a priority by either the client [National Housing Enterprise] or main subcontractors. The union, however, singled out Rundu where it says there have been improvements in working conditions at mass housing sites and appealed to others to emulate the good example.
“We appeal to employers in this project to allow workers to join union, let the workers have the right to representation,” she stressed.
She said it is disturbing that the majority of these employers are SMEs, purely Namibians, but the way they are treating other Namibians is worse than the well-known complaints of some of the Chinese employers.
Jonas further called on workers to unite and resist this kind of treatment, as guided by the Namibian Constitution and the Labour Act.
“Please get copies of these from the Gazette for the construction industry either from our office or the Ministry of Labour in order to fight back the injustices,” she said.
The statement also urges all construction workers to rally behind the union when the negotiations between the union and the construction industry federation resume. The union called on workers in the industry to speak with one voice and fight for better wages and conditions of employment.
“Employers who are still not paying wages as stipulated in the Government Gazette are urged to comply with the minimum wage. Workers must come out in numbers to report all cases, especially in the mass housing project and other projects. Manwu Team will continue to fight for the construction workers, the wages, condition of employment, benefits and health and safety at project sites,” the statement said.
“Workers must come out in numbers to report all cases, especially in the mass housing project and other projects,” she pleaded, adding that the union will continue to fight for the construction workers, the wages, condition of employment, benefits and health and safety ant project sides.
Additionally, Jonas urged union members to attend education sessions organised by the union in order to understand their rights at workplaces, as this will help in avoiding illegal strikes like those experienced last year.
“Our trained shop stewards must be our champions to educate others within our structures,” she added.
Furthermore, Jonas said the union is concerned that many young people do not understand the role of trade unions.
“It is disturbing that young people do not understand the role of trade unions, young people are the future of this country and through trade union work we will shape ourselves to build a strong movement and continue to fight for the injustice at work places,” she said.
“Young workers are the most exploited workers, because ignorance of not wanting to join the unions has become a tool for employers to exploit us at workplaces,” she added.
She said young people are paid less, with no benefits and in bad working conditions, conditions that can be change if young workers unite themselves at workplaces and get employer at the table to change the situation.