Africa-Press – Namibia.
Labour minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel has invoked Section 80 of the Labour Act to suspend the voluntary separation (VS) program at Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter.
The move comes amid ongoing tensions between mine management and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN), who have been at odds over the program since May 2025.
Yesterday morning, the MUN announced on Facebook, “This marks a decisive victory for our members, as the suspension of this process ensures that our members will not be forced into a unilateral scheme designed to sideline the MUN and strip away their right to proper representation in any collective dismissal, whether disguised as voluntary or otherwise inevitable.”
Local media previously reported that Sinomine had entered a “no retrenchment for three years” agreement with employees and the Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC) last year. However, the company persisted with the VS programme, even after nearly six hours of discussions.
Despite resistance from the union, which spent hours deliberating under the custodianship of the labour ministry, no agreement was reached to halt the program pending full consultation with all stakeholders. This deadlock led the minister to trigger Section 80 of the Labour Act.
Section 80 empowers the minister to direct the labour commissioner to appoint an independent conciliator to help resolve disputes. The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations is now expected to issue further directives, with the program suspended pending the outcome of the conciliation process.
Meanwhile, the NaCC has also voiced concerns about the voluntary separation initiative. It has indicated that a review and investigation will be launched to determine whether the program constitutes a disguised retrenchment. This was confirmed by corporate communications officer Dina //Gowases.
In a separate incident yesterday, Immanuel and his delegation, including members of his security detail, were initially denied entry to the smelter due to a company policy requiring alcohol testing. According to media reports, the minister’s security personnel were also asked to surrender their weapons to the company’s security team, as per the smelter’s safety protocols.
The minister’s visit was aimed at scrutinising the voluntary separation scheme, which he suspects is in violation of labour regulations.
In a subsequent statement, Sinomine said the alcohol testing requirement was part of a site-wide safety policy implemented in 2013 and continued after the company acquired the smelter in August 2024.
“This policy serves to comply with industry standards, addressing the requirements of a high-risk industrial environment and ensuring the safety of all personnel and visitors on site,” the company stated.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to the honourable minister of justice and labour relations and his delegation during their entry to the company compound this morning, due to miscommunication between the relevant parties.”
The smelter’s management added, “Tsumeb Smelter highly values its cooperative relationship with the Namibian government and the local community, and we remain committed to contributing to Namibia’s social and economic development.”
This statement came despite confirmation from Sinomine’s communications manager, Alina Garises, that the company had received a formal notification of the minister’s scheduled visit on Monday.
On Monday evening, following the standoff and the failed talks between MUN and mine management, Immanuel had warned that he would invoke Section 80 if no agreement was reached.
“The effect of Section 80 would be the suspension of the ongoing voluntary separation until a determination is made in terms thereof,” he said.
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