Lahja Nashuuta 

Delays in paying over N$13 million to Shore Recruitment is hampering the permanent re-employment of fishermen.  

Yesterday, about 50 fishermen representing those previously employed by ArtictNam and Namsov were at the ministry of fisheries’ doorsteps, demanding employment. 

In turn, the ministry promised jobs to hundreds of fishermen who were previously employed by the Samherji-owned Saga Seafood, which operated from Walvis Bay, and are currently facing hardships after the company closed in 2020.

“The company cannot give us permanent employment because they have been paying us for the past three years. The ministry has owed them around N$ 13 million,” the fishermen explained in their petition. 

According to them, no arrangement was made as to how the company will recover their money.  

The fishermen also pointed out that Shore Recruitment cannot handle more employees as the quotas they received are simply not sufficient. 

Initiated in 2020 following a Cabinet directive, the re-employment process seeks to address the plight of the distraught fishermen who lost their jobs due to the Fishrot scandal, wherein the country's fisheries and marine resources were allegedly stolen on a grand scale. 

The fisheries ministry, in collaboration with the labour ministry, launched the programme, aimed at addressing unemployment among fishermen. However, the programme received criticism both from the public and fishermen, who regard it as ineffective. The unemployed fishermen also expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the ministry of fisheries dealt with their employment issue after retrenchment in 2018.

“We lost our employment in 2018, and the arrangement was made in December 2020 by minister Albert Kawana, at a time when he was a minister of fisheries and marine resources, to be employed by Shore Recruitment. Since then, we have received N$4 000. What makes us unhappy is that all other workers employed Shore Recruitment were employed on a permanent basis. However, we do not have any contract of employment ,and there is no sign we will receive permanent contracts,” the petition reads.

“What makes it difficult for us is that we don’t even know how much quota was given for us for employment, under which conditions, and what type of agreement the ministry of fisheries have with Shore Recruitment, and why even our union officials were not informed so that things are clear,” they charged. 

To this, the fisheries ministry reiterated its commitment to finding a lasting solution to the situation.  “We have allocated quotas this morning to two companies, and will finalise within the course of this week,” 

Ueritjiua Kauaria, the deputy executive director in the ministry, told the fishermen. 

He added that the ministry is working around the clock to settle its dues, while also allocating additional fishing quotas to companies such as Venmar Fishing and Carapau Fishing to open the employment opportunities for the destitute fishermen.

Kauaria added that it is now up to the companies which received the quotas to engage with the union and fishermen to draw up employment contracts. What is more, official opposition leader McHenry Venaani has raised questions to fisheries minister Derek Klazen on the effectiveness of the Government Employment Redress Programme initiative in the fishing sector.

“The terms and conditions outlined in the designated agreements are cause for concern, particularly a clause which stipulates that if an employee resigns, retires or passes away, the position must not be filled by another fisherman, and the quota will be reduced accordingly. How and why are companies expected to operate under such restrictive terms?” Venaani wanted to know.