WINDHOEK- The Namibia National Labour Organisation (Nanlo) president, Evilastus Kaaronda, has called on politicians to use rallies to condemn Chinese firms that allegedly abuse their workers particularly in the construction industry.
Nanlo is deeply disappointed with the continued abuse of workers by employers in the construction sector particularly by Chinese firms who for some reason continue receiving government and SOE tenders with ease, he said.
Kaaronda called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba, the founding president Dr Sam Nujoma, the Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob, Henk Mudge of the RP, McHenry Venaani of the DTA, Ben Ulenga of the CoD, Usutuaije Maamberua of Swanu, Ignatius Shixwameni of APP, Hidipo Hamutenya of RDP and others to strongly publicly condemn these Chinese companies during and at their campaign rallies and to come to the rescue of Namibian workers.
“We further call on these leaders to condemn the corrupt ways in which these Chinese companies engage in business,” Kaaronda urged.
He claimed Chinese firms that have contracts with Namport and the Roads Authority (RA) have concealed business relationships with ministers, some parliamentarians, and regional and local authority councillors and as a result have accorded themselves unfettered rights to abuse workers.
He added that some regional and local authority councillors from all political parties have also joined the Chinese companies and now have contracts with these companies through business proxies.
In this regard, RA spokesperson Hileni Fillemon said they strictly adhere to the company’s procurement policy and tender rules when evaluating and awarding tenders.
“Similarly contractors, foreign or local, are expected to strictly adhere to our country’s labour laws with regard to workers on road construction projects. The Roads Authority does not condone any mistreatment of workers on projects. We would like to call on workers to contact the Roads Authority if such incidences occur,” she said.
“This situation is evident almost everywhere in the country and the most recent case in point is the one in Otjinene/Okondjatu where the cries of workers keep falling on deaf ears,” said Kaaronda.
Moreover, he cited the case of the China Harbor Engineering Corporation at Walvis Bay as one example where Namibian workers are given monthly contracts which are terminated at the end of every month, resulting in those employees who are seen not to have toed the company line to lose their jobs. The Nanlo leader said that in all cases workers who are chosen to represent others as shop stewards are the ones whose employment contracts are always terminated.
“Yet government through the Namibian Port Authority -Namport – as its company is silent in the face of such unmistakable abuse. It is a fact that Namport does not have month to month contracts with this Chinese company, yet it conveniently elects to ignore the plight of Namibian workers who are on such precarious employment contracts,” charged Kaaronda.
Namport chief executive officer, Bisey Uirab, was not available for comment by the time of going to press.
Equally, Kaaronda had no kind words for TransNamib where Nanlo represents workers. He said the parastatal has for more than 10 years been making huge savings by illegally paying its skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled employees more than 30 percent below the market range.
As if this unfair and unlawful labour practice is not enough, TransNamib appointed its current chief executive officer, Sara Naanda, a little less than 24 months ago on a salary of more than N$2 million a year, he said.
“To add insult to injury TransNamib went on to upwardly adjust and thereby increase the salary packages of its strategic executives. Nanlo is reliably informed that these strategic executives earn as much as N$150 000 per month. Yet the board and management of TransNamib together with the line ministry want us to believe that TransNamib is cash-strapped,” Kaaronda said.
Nanlo has demanded that workers’ salaries be adjusted by 35 percent to make up for their underpayment over the years.
Against this background, Nanlo called on President Pohamba as the appointing authority to fire Minister of Works and Transport, Erkki Nghimtina, and institute swift measures aimed at cleaning up TransNamib.
By Albertina Nakale