Africa-Press – Namibia. Fishing industry workers are petitioning the government to scrap the quota auction system, claiming it fuels job insecurity and prevents long-term employees from securing permanent contracts.
Workers from Embwinda Fishing, Tunacor Fisheries, Merlus Fishing, Gendev Fishing, and Seawork Fish Processors said this in various petitions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform yesterday.
Erongo governor Natalia /Goagoses received the petitions.
“This system is directly undermining the transition of long-term employees into permanent positions,” Tunacor shop steward Anna Elago said.
She said auctions favour the highest bidders, often at the expense of local companies that employ thousands of Namibians.
“The auction system prevents companies from knowing their future capacity. Without a guaranteed quota, employers are hesitant to commit to permanent contracts,” she said.
The workers are calling on the government to stop the auction system and allocate quotas directly to companies with vessels and established work forces.
Elago said many employees remain on fixed-term contracts for years.
“Workers who should be permanent are being kept on fixed-term contracts for over eight years, because companies cannot guarantee work without a predictable quota,” she said.
Gendev Fishing workers raised concerns about worsening working conditions at the company, linking their situation to broader industry challenges.
“Since last year, we’ve been at home without working for long periods, for which the company pays us for 4.5 hours,” Gendev shop steward Aina Nampweya said.
She said the company has announced plans to retrench about 489 employees due to operational challenges.
“On 22 January, the acting managing director (MD) announced that Gendev is going to retrench around 489 employees due to non-operational workers in the company.
“On 18 March, the acting MD sent out a memo saying March salaries will be delayed due to financial difficulties,” Nampweya said.
According to Gendev’s petition, workers were sent home on 23 March, including supervisors and administrative staff.
Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union representative Moses Nakatana said the quota auction system is contributing to deteriorating working conditions across the sector.
He said some companies are forced to buy fish through auctions to sustain operations, making it difficult to maintain stable employment.
“Many companies are not willing to increase the number of permanent workers because of declining quota allocation,” Nakatana said.
They also want a system that rewards companies offering permanent jobs.
“We say no to the fishing quota auction,” he said.
The latest protest comes amid ongoing pressure in the fishing sector linked to quota allocations.
The Namibian last week reported that captains of the industry warned that reduced quotas and limited access to fish are affecting operations and employment.
Earlier this year, the Namibian Seamen and Allied Workers’ Union rejected Gendev’s planned retrenchment of 489 workers, citing operational challenges tied to limited quotas and uncertainty in the sector.
/Goagoses yesterday told the workers she would engage the relevant authorities, asking for 14 days to respond to their queries.
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