WALVIS BAY – Workers employed under the Merlus Fishing Group are demanding urgent salary adjustments and fair working conditions, saying discrepancies in wages and benefits have created division and frustration among employees. 

Close to 200 workers from Abroma Fishing, Seagull Fishing and Cormorant Fishing—subsidiaries of Merlus—staged a peaceful lunchtime demonstration on Monday, during which they handed over a petition addressed to management. 

This follows revelations that employees who recently joined one of the subsidiaries are being paid N$31 per hour, a N$580 housing allowance, and additional benefits. 

According to the group, the new employees were taken in through the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP). 

The programme was launched in 2020 to absorb fishermen who lost jobs during the 2015 illegal strike, as well as those affected by the Fishrot scandal, back into the industry. 

Due to challenges and low wages, the ministry of fisheries in partnership with the labour relations ministry, recently concluded negotiations to address these issues. In turn, companies were allocated quotas to absorb the workers. 

This resulted in better salaries and working conditions. However, those who have been employed in the sector longer are now crying foul, as they were not included in the negotiations. 

Merlus workers’ representative David Mbanze, yesterday, pointed out that although they are employed by different companies, all the workers operate at the same premises, process the same fish, work on the same lines and use the same vessels. 

“We are working in the same premises. We catch, process and package the same fish, but we are paid differently,” Mbanze said.

According to him, employees at Abroma Fishing earn N$26.50 per hour, while those at Seagull Fishing receive N$23.40. Others employed by Cormorant Fishing are only paid N$18.00 per hour. 

He added that housing allowances also differ. Some workers at Abroma receive N$660.00, while Seagull workers get only N$450.00. Others said they receive no benefits at all, despite working long hours. 

“We do the same job, but the gap is too big. It’s unfair. There must be one salary structure for all of us. This is unfair,” Mbanze stressed. 

He stated that the situation is a violation of the International Labour Organisation Convention 100 of 1951, which promotes equal pay for work of equal value. He also said the Namibian Constitution calls for fair and decent salaries and decent work for all. 

The workers also complained about not being paid during the annual hake fishing shutdown in October. They said the company applied a “no work, no pay” policy that left many of them without income. 

Their union representative, Paulus Hango, said unions representing other workers in the fishing industry were not consulted by the two ministers during the GERP consultations. As a result, he said, some long-serving employees are now earning less than those recently recruited through the programme. 

Human resource manager Rosina Muatunga received the petition during the demonstration. “Your concerns have been noted, and I will make sure that it reaches management,” she told the group. 

– edeklerk@nepc.com.na