Lahja Nashuuta
Hundreds of fishermen, former employees of Namsov and Heinaste, are calling for a reversal of a decision to allocate fishing quotas to companies they accuse of underpaying their workers.
They were absorbed through the Government Employment Redressing Programme (GERP) after losing their jobs.
They petitioned the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources on Monday, calling for a reversal.
The four companies recently awarded fishing quotas under the GERP are now insisting that the fishermen work for them, despite the sub-par pay. Immanuel Petrus, who spoke on behalf of the concerned group, stated that the fishermen are requesting that fishing quotas be redirected from Merlus Cormorant, Iyaloo Women Investment, Hangana and Novanam to Blue Chromics.
Petrus highlighted that the fishermen were the lowest-paid employees under the redress programme at Cavema, under a company called Shore Recruit (Pty) Ltd. He also mentioned their reluctance to work for Merlus Cormorant due to poor wages and working conditions, which led to employees from the redress programme temporarily stopping work while being seconded to Shelfco+ 103, a labour hire company.
“At Iyaloo, women went unpaid for more than two months. We, the ex-fishermen of Heinaste and Namsov, are only willing to be absorbed by Blue Chromics. We refuse to be mistreated by those four companies, and will remain at your office until the minister allocates the quotas to Blue Chromics,” he declared.
Petrus further revealed that most fishermen formerly employed by Cavema Fishing and Overberg until December last year, are currently unemployed. He stated, “The minister understood that our contract with Cavema would end. We engaged him during a meeting held at the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, where a verbal agreement was reached for us to consult companies interested in hiring us and inform the minister accordingly. This has been done.”
On 15 January 2025, the fishermen sent a letter to the minister of fisheries, indicating that Blue Chromics was willing to hire them. On 27 January 2025, the minister ordered the fishermen, the union Nasawu and Blue Chromics to present the work agreement in writing, which they completed on 29 January 2025.
However, to the fishermen’s surprise, the government decided to allocate fishing quotas to Merlus Cormorant, Iyaloo Women Investment, Hangana and Novanam, as stated in a letter dated 21 January 2025, signed by the ministry’s executive director, Annely Haiphene.
“We would like to understand what led the honourable minister to allocate the quotas to those four companies without consulting us, while sidelining a company that offers excellent salaries and working conditions,” he remarked.
The ministry has allocated the quotas 100% according to the quota usage agreement, and there were no negotiations between the parties prior to this allocation.
In response to the petition, the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Derek Klazen has promised to review the petition, investigate, consult with relevant parties, and provide feedback within 10 days from Monday.
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