Adolf Kaure

Namibia’s leading milling company, Namib Mills, and the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (Naretu) reached a partial agreement during a dialogue facilitated by the Minister of Justice and Labour Relations, Fillemon Wise Immanuel, on Friday at the Office of the Labour Commissioner. 

This comes after three weeks of an industrial strike involving over 95% of the company’s workers due to unresolved wage disputes.

In tandem with the strike, Namib Mills enforced a temporary lock-out. 

All parties involved in the dispute turned to the minister for mediation, as none were willing to back down. 

During Friday’s meeting, the parties reached an agreement on the yearly salary boost. They also agreed on fair salary adjustments for the same job grades and approved an increase in the drivers’ night-out allowance. 

Furthermore, an increase in the medical aid, non-discounting of bonus, as well as the finalisation of a procedural agreement between the parties.

The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations’ public relations officer, Jerry Namalenga, said there are only three unresolved issues. Among these unresolved issues are the standard minimum entry level wage and the increase in the transport allowance. 

Naretu’s general secretary, Petersen Kambinda, said the union and workers will abide by the government’s progressive involvement and are hopeful that the strike will end this week. 

“With all the efforts the parties put in on Friday, we can build on it and possibly reach an agreement in the coming week, so that full production at Namib Mills can be restored and industrial action can come to an end,” he said.

“For now, I can only thank the minister for the way in which he handled the situation, which was so tense, and later we managed to reach a consensus on many issues. Hopefully, next week, the industrial action will come to an end,” he stated.

-akaure@nepc.com.na