Africa-Press – Namibia. SOME large fishing companies are yet to submit proposals to provide more than 600 fishermen at Walvis Bay with full-time employment, despite receiving fishing quotas in exchange for creating active employment for the fishermen.
The unemployed fishermen were last on the payroll of the Cavema Fishing Camoposatu Investment/Vernier Investment/Cavema Fishing joint venture for horse mackerel, the Hodago Fishing joint venture and Kuiseb Fishing enterprises for hake.
Companies that submitted their expressions of interest in securing employment for the fishermen and offering them decent wages include Erica, Hatutungu, South Hake, Omvalu, Iyalooo, Okadhona, Trialiant, Agra Cape Fria, Rukatika, Eduweb Development Trust, Helgoland and Blue Chromis Fishing.
Another company that submitted a proposal was Mabasen Atlantic Fishing, a company solely owned by Windhoek resident Charles Naruseb, who is also in discussions with the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) to commercially harvest its 11 395-tonne horse mackerel quota for the 2023 fishing season.
Another is Cassidra Fishing, owned by Naomi Natangwe Kefas, Victor Simunja Simunja, Sophia Nangula Kasheeta, Abraham Shikongo, Sharon Neumbo and Jacqueline Thiardt.
Fisheries and marine resources minister Derek Klazen told The Namibian the ministry is in the process of evaluating the proposals.
“The process is ongoing. We have an independent committee looking into the bids that were submitted. Once the process is completed, we will revert to Cabinet to inform Cabinet of the results,” he said.
He said once Cabinet has taken a decision, the ministry will sign contracts with the successful companies. This will be followed up with an agreement with the labour ministry.
“We really don’t want any job losses in the fishing industry,” said Klazen.
The fishermen last received an income of N$4 000 in December from Cavema fishing, as the contract for the governmental employment redress programme ended.
Through their spokesperson Fillip Shimwooshili, the fishermen asked the ministry to speed the process up as many have been evicted from their rented shacks around Walvis Bay.
“Many of us now look as if we are mentally unstable. We continue to pray that this whole thing comes to an end,” he said.
The fishermen have also asked that Cavema fishing speed up the outstanding payment of their leave days and severance packages.
Cavema director Robert Shimooshili confirmed that the money will be paid.
“The fishermen will be paid in terms of the law. Severance pay doesn’t apply to an employee who resigned, and leave days will be paid definitely this month, minus one month’s notice in terms of the labour law,” he said.
During a meeting with the parliamentary standing committee on the mass resignation of fishermen employed under the governmental employment redressing programme, Shimooshili said it is not possible to secure jobs at sea at the moment.
He also said the quota allocated to the company was not enough to require an additional vessel.
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