LÜDERITZ – Workers at Lüderitz Spar quit their jobs on March 2, the day they started working under new management that took over the shop on March 1, 2015.
The employees said they had a meeting with the new management on February 27, during which they realised that the new management would operate differently from the old management. The new management would pay workers N$5 per hour, except for butchery workers who would be paid N$6 per hour. Previously, the workers earned between N$4 900 for those who worked for more than 11 years, while those who have worked for more than 23 years had earned N$6 000 per month.
Further, the new management asked the workers to start at 08h00 and work until 13h00 without tea break. They would resume work from 14h00 until 18h00, after which all the workers would remain at the workplace until 19h00 for the cashiers to count the money while the other staff clean the shop.
When approached for comment, the shop’s new owner Johann van Rooyen said he gave the workers the first option to start the new job with his management, but the workers did not respect the management.
Van Rooyen said it is difficult for the workers to understand that they got a new job under new management, but he cannot pay them according to the years of service. He said he has given them a three-month probation, in order for him to proceed with his plan to provide the necessary benefits for the workers.
He also said the new rules at the workplace are needed because the Spar shop got bankrupt because of stock theft. He also deplored the workers’ attitude towards customer service, saying they use personal cellphones and chew in the presence of customers. Van Rooyen also said the shop is in poor condition, hence the new management decided to extend the working hours in the afternoon to clean the shop until it reaches accepted standards.