Cash & Carry: From suspension to 10% pay rise
The 276 Rundu Cash and Carry employees who were suspended earlier this month will resume work on 8 February following an agreement that will also see them receive a 10% salary increase.
The pay bump is one of several issues that were addressed over the weekend following a labour dispute.
The salary increment is effective as of 31 March.
This is according to the settlement agreement signed at the weekend between the workers, who were represented by labour consultant Linus Neumbo, while Cash & Carry was represented by Gotty Ndjendjela.
Ndjendjela is the owner of Employees Placement Services Namibia CC (EPSN), the company that hired the employees on behalf of Cash & Carry.
Agreement reached
The labour dispute started after Rundu Cash & Carry workers, unhappy with their treatment at work and what they said were unfair salaries, staged a strike that was subsequently deemed illegal.
This was followed by a demonstration during which the employees said they could no longer accept the status quo.
A petition was handed over to Kavango East Regional governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, and shared with the labour ministry.
The labour ministry reacted swiftly, with the acting executive director of the ministry, advocate Otniel Podewiltz, visiting Rundu on Friday to engage the stakeholders involved in the matter.
After numerous meetings, the parties reached a settlement agreement.
Continued watch
At a press conference on Saturday, Wakudumo announced the return of the suspended workers and thanked all parties who had participated in the process to resolve the issue.
Wakudumo said that apart from the return to work and salary, "many other matters were also agreed on, and measures coupled with necessary interventions were included in the agreement.
"These interventions will be monitored by the ministry of labour," he said.
Among the issues that will be addressed over the coming period, are payslip issuance, overtime, unlawful deductions, health and safety, social security commission, employment contracts, industrial relations, and salary increments.
"My office will receive a full report in this regard. Furthermore, it appears that miscommunication and undue influence from outsiders may have contributed to this dispute," the governor said.
[email protected]
The pay bump is one of several issues that were addressed over the weekend following a labour dispute.
The salary increment is effective as of 31 March.
This is according to the settlement agreement signed at the weekend between the workers, who were represented by labour consultant Linus Neumbo, while Cash & Carry was represented by Gotty Ndjendjela.
Ndjendjela is the owner of Employees Placement Services Namibia CC (EPSN), the company that hired the employees on behalf of Cash & Carry.
Agreement reached
The labour dispute started after Rundu Cash & Carry workers, unhappy with their treatment at work and what they said were unfair salaries, staged a strike that was subsequently deemed illegal.
This was followed by a demonstration during which the employees said they could no longer accept the status quo.
A petition was handed over to Kavango East Regional governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, and shared with the labour ministry.
The labour ministry reacted swiftly, with the acting executive director of the ministry, advocate Otniel Podewiltz, visiting Rundu on Friday to engage the stakeholders involved in the matter.
After numerous meetings, the parties reached a settlement agreement.
Continued watch
At a press conference on Saturday, Wakudumo announced the return of the suspended workers and thanked all parties who had participated in the process to resolve the issue.
Wakudumo said that apart from the return to work and salary, "many other matters were also agreed on, and measures coupled with necessary interventions were included in the agreement.
"These interventions will be monitored by the ministry of labour," he said.
Among the issues that will be addressed over the coming period, are payslip issuance, overtime, unlawful deductions, health and safety, social security commission, employment contracts, industrial relations, and salary increments.
"My office will receive a full report in this regard. Furthermore, it appears that miscommunication and undue influence from outsiders may have contributed to this dispute," the governor said.
[email protected]
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