Africa-Press – Namibia. Auleria Wakudumo
Employees of the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) have submitted a petition to their board protesting what they describe as the ongoing violation of their fundamental rights to collective bargaining.
The petition, addressed to NAB’s Chief Executive Officer Fidelis Mwazi, raises concern over the handling of a job evaluation and grading exercise for the 2025/2026 financial period.
“Collective bargaining is important because it gives workers a voice in salaries, working conditions and benefits,” the petition states.
The workers are represented by the Public Service Union of Namibia.
They explain that during the 2025/2026 negotiations, the board and the union agreed that the job evaluation and grading exercise would be handled transparently.
Employees demand that the preliminary reports of the exercise must be shared with the Workers Union Committee (WURCOM), and if the preliminary results are favourable to employees in the bargaining unit, the outcome must become the subject of negotiations and could replace salary and wage negotiations for 2026/2027.
However, the workers claim that this agreement was not followed.
“It was realised that NAB had received the final reports of the exercises and did not share them with the union negotiating team for discussion as agreed,” the petition alleged.
They further allege that management submitted the reports for approval and that the board approved them without the workers’ input.
“It has come to our attention that the report was submitted for approval and later approved by the board without the involvement of workers,” workers stated.
They added that they believe that NAB is demonstrating in bad faith regarding its handling of the job evaluation negotiations. They said the actions undermine their rights as well as the principles of industrial democracy and social justice. Workers, furthermore, emphasised that such actions undermine workers’ rights, as protected under Section 64 of the Labour Act and International Labour Organization Convention No. 98, which promotes collective bargaining.
Employees are demanding the BDO Christina Swart-Opperman t/a CO Holdings and PwC reports be brought back to the bargaining table as agreed. They also call to fix job evaluation injustice and stop unfair labour practices such as unjustified demotions, stagnations, and red-circling of employees and ensure the closure of the job grading gap between executives, middle management and staff below management.
They further demand fair pay for border inspectors, no demotions, and clear and transparent criteria in job evaluation processes, as well as equity in remunerations.
The workers have given the board 48 hours to provide a written response after receiving the petition.
NAB spokesperson Liseli Mwilima confirmed to New Era that the petition was received by the general manager for governance and risk management, Eliaser Asser.
When asked about the board’s response to the concerns raised and what steps management will take, Mwilima said it was premature to comment as management is currently discussing the matter.
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