NAUTE – President Hifikepunye Pohamba publicly denounced the working conditions at the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) fruit farm at Naute dam, tearing into the management of the farming enterprise. He was particularly upset at finding that workers who’ve worked on the farm for the last two years are employed on one-month contracts, while the harvesting season lasts three to four months.
“If a person works for three to four months then they must sign a contract for three or four months. A person should then have security for three months at least, but for a person working for two years to be employed on a one-month contract basis is not right.
Where is the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, why don’t they see this?
A person should have a job security of at least six months,” Pohamba said in criticism of the NDC management of the fruit farm, which is a joint venture between the NDC and the UAE-based Al-dhahra Agricultural Company.
“When you renew workers’ contracts every month, is it done by law?” the president enquired.
The fruit farm is located at the Naute dam, roughly 40 kilometres outside Keetmanshoop. The farm primarily grows dates and table grapes for export to Europe.
Manager of the Al-dhara company at Naute dam, Sahle Abdul Karda, confirmed that some workers have their contracts renewed every month, but said he was not entirely familiar with the labour practices of the country.
“Yes a person can work on a contract, but it is better for them to tell their family I have work for three months. How can they [the company] tell their workers they are working for one month only?” querried Pohamba.
The president nevertheless commended the Naute dam project management for expanding the project, but emphasised his disappointment in the treatment of workers.
Meanwhile the acting managing director of the NDC, Pieter de Wet, informed the president that the date project has proved to be a great success and has diversified into producing five different crops.
According to De Wet, the date harvest which is due to start next month is mainly earmarked for export to Europe and some parts of Africa.
He said the harvest is expected to produce 350 tons and at a sale of N$50 per kilogramme would earn an income of N$15 million for 2014.
De Wet said some of the date varieties failed to perform such as Barhee because of excessive rain.
This particular variety, he explained, would be removed from production.
According to De Wet, the table grape harvest which ended in January this year produced 117 000 boxes.
He said the project is mainly limited by water supply but management are confident the future Neckartal dam would contribute to solving the problem.
By Jemima Beukes