Retailer Choppies has, with immediate effect, severed ties with the Employment Placement Service of Namibia, owned by politician Gottlieb Ndjendjela.
Ndjendjela confirmed to New Era that he signed the termination of contract document, but was quick to say the “baseless” allegations levelled against him had nothing to do with it.
The abrupt contract termination comes a week after the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement approached the management of the retailer, complaining that the EPSN’s conduct was exploiting the workers.
“These allegations had nothing to do with the termination. That is something we discussed some time back. We had an issue where our employees informed us that one of the Choppies management members was sexually harassing the workers, so it started from there,” he stated without delving into the matter.
“I want to make it clear that there is nothing we are taking from the workers as alluded to. We are operating legally, just like any other recruitment agency. These are our employees who we enter into contractual employment agreements with, where everything is stated. The company which we provide employees for pays us, and in return we pay the workers as agreed upon.
It is more like a security company that won a tender. The client pays the contracted security company, which in turn then pays the guard, based on the salary agreement. So, that is what happens with EPSN also”, he continued.
EPSN is an agency owned by Ndjendjela, which serves as a middleman between employers and employees.
To that extent, EPSN is responsible for salary payments. However, there are concerns that the agency has been deducting huge sums and only paying peanuts to the workers doing the actual job.
“Notice is hereby given to you that Choppies Supermarket Namibia is terminating the agreement with EPSN for the provision of personnel services to Choppies outlets across Namibia, which agreement was concluded on 2 December 2019,” wrote the retailer in a statement dated 30 September, and subsequently signed by Ndjendjela on 1 October.
Choppies further said it will pay EPSN a lump sum amount for the premature contract termination.
AR’s Revolutionary Union (RU) in their latest statement vowed to continue waging the struggle of dejected workers.
“Where and when a system seems to oppress, isolate and subjugate, it’s the responsibility of the revolutionaries to rebel,” stated AR activist Benedick Louw.
Furthermore, the union will not allow the “capitalist exploitative class” to continue mistreating workers under their watch.
“We will cooperate, if needed. We will advise, but we will also fight if need be,” he stressed.
Ndjendjela insisted that he has proof to counter any claims made as he gunned for his innocence.