Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) says it will revisit the Cheetah Cement factory to ensure the company implements required labour protocols.
This comes after the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation granted the Chinese-owned Cheetah Cement factory at Otjiwarongo permission to resume its operations after being ordered to cease operations on 10 May due to health concerns.
NEFF vice president Iipumbu Kalimbo says the party will engage with the ministry before visiting the plant.
“We will try to make an appointment with the management just to go and satisfy ourselves with the set-up,” he says.
He says the NEFF also wants to ensure that instructions from the ministry have been complied with.
“We will have a peaceful engagement with the ministry and Cheetah Cement’s management, and we applaud the ministry for not sitting on the issue,” he says.
Kalimbo says all companies must obey Namibia’s laws.
“We want to show an example to other companies who are exploiting workers and have hazardous working conditions. Cheetah Cement has set a good example, and we want to thank the management for making sure everything is in line,” he says.
The NEFF leadership in April visited the factory, alleging that some employees, who are Chinese nationals, are not in possession of work permits and proper documentation, and that local employees are ill-treated.
The visit led to the arrest of eight Chinese nationals at the factory after they failed to produce work permits to immigration officials and the police.
Acting executive director of labour, industrial relations and employment creation Lydia Indombo earlier this week said the factory’s closure followed a number of inspections in terms of basic conditions of employment and occupational health and safety regulations by the ministry.
“Employees are not provided with suitable personal protective equipment, such as hearing protection for excavator operators, kidney belts for back support, and masks designed for mining operations, where excessive dust is evident,” she said.
Indombo said the company never investigated or identified the hazards and risks associated with employees’ activities.
“The employer failed to provide first aid and emergency arrangements. The employer failed to provide employees with the necessary information and training to work safely and without health risks,” she said.
Indombo said the factory’s trucks were operated without proper tyre handling tools and machinery, and there is insufficient lighting in the workshop area.
Contacted for comment, Cheetah Cement general manager Lee Kevin yesterday said the company has rectified everything they were told to by the labour ministry, adding this cost around N$1 million.
“People are just saying we are not respecting the law … They are attacking the Chinese, saying they are illegal. Most of the job is done by Namibians,” he said.
“Some people’s visas expired, and we applied for new ones, and the immigration office keeps saying they are investigating until a year passed,” he said.
Cheetah Cement factory manager Immanuel Shilongo yesterday said the factory is safe for employees.
“The injuries that were recorded were caused by subcontractors,” he said.
Shilongo said they provide workers with personal protective equipment, adding that this is sometimes of poor quality.
“We have ordered new ones from South Africa, and we are disbursing them to the workers. They are here now,” he said.
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