Africa-Press – Namibia. CLOSE to a hundred employees of Hartlief today held a demonstration following austerity measures imposed by the company which include a 20% salary cut, as well as the stripping of several other benefits.
The workers, represented by the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU), held a peaceful demonstration and gave over their petition to the Managing Director of the factory, Günther Ling.
Reading the petition to management, Ruben Nghifimule, an employee, said that the company wrote a brief on 21 September 2021 to cut costs in areas such as the canteen, free bonus, overtime and staff discounts, as well as salary cuts of 20% for next month.
The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group acquired a 60% stake in Hartlief Corporation Limited in 2019, a move that was not well received by the workers. “What we see from this company is that they are taking away everything we were enjoying from our former employer so that we are left with nothing, while senior management remains with their benefits untouched,” Nghifimule said.
The aggrieved worker further revealed that there are employees who were injured at the meat cutting department of the factory, and while investigations were completed, to date there was no report given.
“We want the company to be held responsible in this regard. We want the government to send independent investigators to come and find out about these injuries. The hands and fingers of our co-employees are heavily damaged,” Nghifimule said.
He further stated that general workers have no access to purified water, and only consume salty water at work. Highlighting these unfair labour practices and more, Nghifimule stated that the workers have refused to sign the new employment contract given to them by Hartlief, as the company has not negotiated with NAFAU.
“The MD, Lings and Francios van der Westhuizen, the employer representative, Johan Nell, and the Factory manager should resign with immediate effect. The austerity measures should be stopped with immediate effect, as well until a consultation with the union is finalised,” Nghifimule said.
NAFAU representative, Lister Tawana, complained about austerity measures taken by the O&L group and explained that employees of NamDiaries also suffered the same fate with their salaries cut by 20% a month ago. The MD of Hartlief, Lings, said that the company will study the petition and get back to the workers on the matter.
