By Mathias Haufiku

WINDHOEK- The Namibia National Labour Organisation (Nanlo) has accused various companies, especially some operating in the mining sector, of fabricating reasons to retrench workers knowing very well they will not be required to furnish any proof for retrenchments.

Nanlo therefore called on the labour commissioner to investigate and independently verify the reasons given by companies to retrench their workers.

Nanlo president Evilastus Kaaronda, at a media briefing held on Friday morning at the organisation’s headquarters, called for a moratorium on retrenchments after accusing company bosses of raking in millions at the expense of  workers during good days, but when things go bad the  same bosses put the workers first on the chopping block.

Making reference to Rössing Uranium’s recent decision to retrench over 250 workers, Kaaronda said: “There must be a moratorium placed on retrenchments until the real reasons driving companies to such irresponsible decisions are investigated and verified. The Office of the Labour Commissioner appears to have satisfied itself with its unwillingness or inability to further probe the true or purported reasons for retrenchments,” he said.

“Cutting to half the hefty salaries and benefits paid to managers at Rössing Uranium can provide better mitigation instead of sending more than 200 workers to the streets to join the already swollen army of unemployed,” Kaaronda said.

“We are also worried about the blind pursuit of profits by government, especially through some of its commercial outlets such as Epangelo Mining,” said the unionist.

Nanlo says it is deeply concerned about the deepening abuse of workers across all industries and economic sectors in the country.

“Workers are more and more forced into situations where their employment contracts are terminated as a result of mismanagement by their bosses, only for the market situation, international or otherwise, to be blamed.” 

On the employment of foreign nationals , especially in the fisheries sector, he said: “Spanish and Russian nationals are employed and paid astronomical wages when compared to their Namibian counterparts, yet they do not possess any special skills.”  Nanlo has also thrown its weight behind the public march against alleged abuse and injustices at Namsov and further encouraged the workers to mobilize for a mass action until their demands are met.

More than 250 fishermen working for the Namsov fishing company in Walvis Bay handed a petition to the company’s management in which they also demanded overtime and night allowance, which they said must not be integrated into commission pay, but be paid separately. 

mhaufiku@newera.com.na