Africa-Press – Namibia. Two Cabinet ministers and a delegation of senior officials have stepped in to intervene in a growing labour crisis affecting workers under the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP).
According to some fishermen, they have not received salaries for up to six months.
More than 500 employees, during a recent meeting held in Walvis Bay, resolved to take part in a peaceful demonstration to voice their displeasure about non-payment and the poor working conditions they have been subjected to under the programme. This strike is still on the cards, pending a response from the Office of the President. As a result of the looming protest, high-level closed-door consultations were held on Friday in Walvis Bay until midnight.
“The meeting is not open to the media,” New Era was told when enquiring from the delegation.
The delegation was led by Minister of Justice and Labour Relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel, his fisheries counterpart Inge Zaamwani, her deputy minister Ruth Masake, Swapo member of Parliament Justina Jonas, and Erongo governor Neville Andre. Fisheries executive director Teofilus Nghitila was also in the mix. Julia Mbwiti, a representative of the Merlus fishermen employees under the programme, said companies holding quotas are not adhering to the requirements. “We were absorbed into this programme after the former Seaflower group was restructured. Unfortunately, we have been moved from one company to another. The results have not been favourable,” she said.
She urged the government to redesign the programme and recommended that quotas be issued directly to employees.
Mining Metal Maritime and Construction Workers Union (MMMC) secretary general Joseph Garoëb also called for seafarers to benefit from ocean resources and earn meaningful wages.
The programme, initially intended to provide job security and financial support, has been marred by delays and alleged mismanagement, leaving over 200 fishermen without their monthly N$4 000 stipend for the past six months, sparking threats of protest. This protest would have seen more than 1 000 employees participating.
Numbers
A confidential document seen by New Era indicates that several companies under the programme are grappling with labour and operational issues.
Merlus Cormorant Fishing (Pty) Ltd, operating under Helgoland Fishing, was initially allocated 200 employees. However, this number dropped to 195 due to resignations and dismissals.
The group, led by Mbwiti, wants to move to Embwinda Fishing. Additionally, 47 former Heinaste/Namsov employees designated to Merlus Cormorant have refused to sign contracts, insisting on employment at Blue Chromis Fishing. NovaNam faces a similar issue as 60 former Heinaste/Namsov workers allocated to them; none have signed contracts, demanding seagoing jobs. They also want to be employed at Blue Chromis, as it is the only fishing company that currently pays the employees under the programme at least N$8 000.
In total, 129 ex-Heinaste/Namsov employees – reassigned to Merlus, NovaNam, Hangana and Iyaloo Women – have not received salaries since January 2025 due to their refusal to sign contracts.
Hangana Seafood (Pty) Ltd saw its workforce drop from 285 to 207 due to retirements and transfers to Embwinda. Although 50% of its quota was released, nine of its workers have also claimed exclusion from the official transfer list to Embwinda.
Cavema employed 147 workers via a third party, allegedly breaching its agreement. Fourteen of these workers – earning N$4 800 monthly while at home – are seeking transfer to Hangana.
Kuiseb Fishing has yet to sign its agreement, citing disputes over specific clauses.
Practice
According to a highly placed official, Helgoland Fishing (Pty) Ltd was at the centre of discussions. Nearly 200 employees embarked on industrial action in March due to unpaid wages.
“The action was deemed illegal by the government, but after intense talks, the workers were instructed to return to duty yesterday. As part of the agreement, the company has committed to paying 55% of outstanding wages as an immediate relief measure,” an official told New Era.
Helgoland and other companies were also instructed to address broader issues, including access to pension and medical aid benefits and improving overall working conditions.
“Some employers have since pledged to revise wage structures and increase the number of seafarers in their workforce. Both ministries will conduct follow-ups to ensure companies operate within the Labour Act and meet the quota conditions,” the official further said.
Affected employees also informed this publication that the labour minister told the fishing company that they needed to come to the table and continue to engage the ministry and employees to avoid labour unrest. Meanwhile, the union is adamant its planned protest from Walvis Bay to Windhoek is not cancelled and will go ahead once dates are confirmed by the Presidency.
Garoeb indicated that they were denied access to the key meeting. “We were never consulted, and our members have been prejudiced,” said Garoeb. He added the union will only back down if they meet President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
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