LÜDERITZ – Crayfish sector workers disgruntled over low pay have threatened not to report for work when the new season opens in November if their demands for improved pay are not fulfilled.
Deckhands get N$3 000 for every two tonnes of crayfish, drivers and chefs get N$5 500 each while crayfish right holder who have quotas of 8.33 metric tonnes say prices have remained the same.
Crayfish sector workers currently not at sea because crayfish is off-season are saying the crayfish sector enriches crayfish quota holders at their expense.
They said they only get paid when they are sea going and that even when they get paid their salaries are paltry and only skippers benefit.
They further charged crayfish quota holders work on the “no fish no money” principle.
They requested the CEO of Seaflower, Mike Nghipunya and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to meet and address this burning issue.
Crayfish workers toil for N$1.00 per kilo of crayfish caught without a fixed monthly wage and are not registered with the Social Security Commission (SSC) despite the fact that they often get injured at sea.
When they are in hospital they receive no money and they demand they should also be registered.
Another one of their demands is also to register for pension fund.
Some companies promised they will sign the contracts after the first trip, but they never keep their promises.
Upon completion of the crayfish season they only received the last month’s crayfish catch pay.
Fishermen also complained about working for six months without any shore leave and leave pay, they came together to talk about the challenges they have been facing ever since 1999 and they demanded an increment to N$3.50 per kilo for crew members and a fixed monthly salary of N$1500. For jobs like loading stores, repairing or loading gear or bait alongside the quay, they demand N$100 per day. The deck mates and the drivers demand N$7.00 per kilo and N$7000 monthly salary; chefs demand N$4.50 per kilo and N$2000 salary.
The fishermen demanded to sign a contract before going to sea and requested to be members of a union that will represent their interests.
They also indicated that they are not going to sea if their demands are not met.
Namibian Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau) representative in Lüderitz Jacob Penda, encouraged the aggrieved workers to organise themselves in order to succeed and that it is much easier to join any union as such union will represent them.
The group of fishermen where gathered at the Regional Councillor’s office on Friday September 26, 2014 to brief the councillor about their problems.
Approached for commend the, the Chairman of Namibia Rock Lobster Association, Rene Dean Shanjengange indicated the crewmembers did not approach him on this matter but he said the industry cannot afford to increase their salaries at this stage, as the market faces hardships and he also indicated market prices, which they usually received per kilo, have not changed over the past fifteen years although expenses have tripled.
He encouraged the industry to come together to bring about amicable solution in this matter.