Fisheries workers demand action amid broken quota promises
The Mining Metal and Construction Union (MMMC), along with hundreds workers from the fishing industry, are demanding immediate government intervention to ensure transparency, accountability, and sustainable employment linked to fishing quota allocations.
Workers and representatives in the fishing industry have called on the government to urgently intervene and address what they describe as a deepening employment and humanitarian crisis.
The call was made during a meeting held by the Mining, Metal and Construction Union (MMMC) in Walvis Bay last week.
Their appeal highlights broken promises, unpaid wages, and unsustainable living conditions affecting hundreds of workers, particularly women and sole breadwinners.
The union insisted that fishing quotas must result in real jobs, not just paper arrangements that enrich a few while leaving the majority idle.
No work, no pay policy
Julia Mbwiti, Workers’ Representative at Merlus Cormorant Fishing, explained that the current crisis stems from the government’s 2019 programme introduced by then fisheries minister Albert Kawana.
While the programme aimed to reinstate displaced fishing workers by placing them in companies such as Tunacor, Venmar Fishing, Fishcor, and later Cormorant Fishing, the reality was very different.
“At Comrant Fishing, we were finally given jobs but under a ‘no work, no pay’ policy, even when we did work, we were paid an hourly wage that barely matched the stipend we received while sitting at home.”
She also revealed that wages were completely withheld for March and April, which pushed many workers to the brink of eviction and left children unable to attend school.
No actual work at sea
Okapare fishermen chairperson, Godfried Kahungu, said 645 workers resigned initially due to the lack of work, even after being rotated between companies like Cavema, Namfi, Iyaloo Fishing and various others and later, after meetings with the Ministry, they were reassigned to Omualu Fishing, Mabasen Fishing, and Venmar, which also yielded no improvement in their situation.
“We are technically employed, but we are just sitting at home, there is no actual work at sea. The stipend we receive isn’t enough to support our families.”
The MMMC has since raised alarms about the government's lack of oversight in issuing fishing quotas. These quotas were supposed to generate real employment opportunities, yet many workers remain unpaid and unsupported.
So, where is the money going?
Both Kahungu and Mbwiti underscored the devastating impact this ongoing crisis has on women, who make up the large portion of the workforce.
At Merlus Cormorant, Kahungu reported that over 180 female employees have gone unpaid for two consecutive months.
“Some of these women are pregnant, some have children who’ve been pulled out of school because they can’t afford daycare or tuition. This is a crisis. Merlus still holds a quota, so where is the money going?”
Additionally, Mbwiti shared similar stories from Merlus Cormorant Fishing.
“We are tired of being used as statistics for quota allocation while our lives fall apart. The government cannot allow companies to continue receiving quotas without proper accountability,” she added.
The workers now demand two clear solutions: either allocate quotas directly to registered workers’ associations, so they can oversee employment and vessel acquisition themselves or ensure that only companies with the capacity to provide real, stable jobs receive quotas.
Nothing but more promises
Mbwiti noted that a verbal agreement had been reached to transfer Cormorant Fishing’s quotas to another company, Embwinda Fishing (Pty) Ltd, which expressed willingness to employ the affected workers. However, this process stalled following a change in ministry leadership.
“We are pleading with the current Deputy Minister, the Executive Directors, and the President to act now. These are not just quotas but these are people’s lives, families, and futures.”
Kahungu reinforced this call, stating that continued inaction would only deepen the suffering, “If no action is taken, we are left with nothing but more promises, while our communities continue to suffer. We need a government that acts, today.”
The call was made during a meeting held by the Mining, Metal and Construction Union (MMMC) in Walvis Bay last week.
Their appeal highlights broken promises, unpaid wages, and unsustainable living conditions affecting hundreds of workers, particularly women and sole breadwinners.
The union insisted that fishing quotas must result in real jobs, not just paper arrangements that enrich a few while leaving the majority idle.
No work, no pay policy
Julia Mbwiti, Workers’ Representative at Merlus Cormorant Fishing, explained that the current crisis stems from the government’s 2019 programme introduced by then fisheries minister Albert Kawana.
While the programme aimed to reinstate displaced fishing workers by placing them in companies such as Tunacor, Venmar Fishing, Fishcor, and later Cormorant Fishing, the reality was very different.
“At Comrant Fishing, we were finally given jobs but under a ‘no work, no pay’ policy, even when we did work, we were paid an hourly wage that barely matched the stipend we received while sitting at home.”
She also revealed that wages were completely withheld for March and April, which pushed many workers to the brink of eviction and left children unable to attend school.
No actual work at sea
Okapare fishermen chairperson, Godfried Kahungu, said 645 workers resigned initially due to the lack of work, even after being rotated between companies like Cavema, Namfi, Iyaloo Fishing and various others and later, after meetings with the Ministry, they were reassigned to Omualu Fishing, Mabasen Fishing, and Venmar, which also yielded no improvement in their situation.
“We are technically employed, but we are just sitting at home, there is no actual work at sea. The stipend we receive isn’t enough to support our families.”
The MMMC has since raised alarms about the government's lack of oversight in issuing fishing quotas. These quotas were supposed to generate real employment opportunities, yet many workers remain unpaid and unsupported.
So, where is the money going?
Both Kahungu and Mbwiti underscored the devastating impact this ongoing crisis has on women, who make up the large portion of the workforce.
At Merlus Cormorant, Kahungu reported that over 180 female employees have gone unpaid for two consecutive months.
“Some of these women are pregnant, some have children who’ve been pulled out of school because they can’t afford daycare or tuition. This is a crisis. Merlus still holds a quota, so where is the money going?”
Additionally, Mbwiti shared similar stories from Merlus Cormorant Fishing.
“We are tired of being used as statistics for quota allocation while our lives fall apart. The government cannot allow companies to continue receiving quotas without proper accountability,” she added.
The workers now demand two clear solutions: either allocate quotas directly to registered workers’ associations, so they can oversee employment and vessel acquisition themselves or ensure that only companies with the capacity to provide real, stable jobs receive quotas.
Nothing but more promises
Mbwiti noted that a verbal agreement had been reached to transfer Cormorant Fishing’s quotas to another company, Embwinda Fishing (Pty) Ltd, which expressed willingness to employ the affected workers. However, this process stalled following a change in ministry leadership.
“We are pleading with the current Deputy Minister, the Executive Directors, and the President to act now. These are not just quotas but these are people’s lives, families, and futures.”
Kahungu reinforced this call, stating that continued inaction would only deepen the suffering, “If no action is taken, we are left with nothing but more promises, while our communities continue to suffer. We need a government that acts, today.”
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