Jhpiego defends retrenchments
A global non-governmental organisation operating in Namibia that retrenched over 20 workers last month says its action was done in accordance with the law.
Jhpiego faces a case of unfair labour practices after it hired over 20 workers on a 12-month contract last November, only to retrench them in February.
A case has since been lodged with the Office of the Labour Commissioner by disgruntled former employees from the Kavango East and Oshana regions.
However, according to Jhpiego country director Abubakari Mwinyi, all legal procedures were followed as far as the retrenchments are concerned.
“All legal procedures in line with Namibian labour laws were followed in the retrenchment of staff,” he said.
He added that the reasons for retrenchment was because the Adolescents and Children, HIV Incidence Reduction, Empowerment and Virus Elimination (ACHIEVE) project was restructured, while some staff members were absorbed by the Catholic AIDS Action (CAA).
Rubbished claims
“In early February this year, Jhpiego started the process of restructuring ACHIEVE in order to better meet the objectives and goals of this important programme,” he said.
“As part of this restructuring, a number of positions in the project organogram and activities were transitioned to CAA, our local partner who has been supporting the community work.
“That important work has now been fully transitioned to CAA, along with funding, to ensure sustainability of activities. As such, we did not need the same staffing component as previously engaged.”
Mwinyi also rubbished claims that funds were misappropriated.
“We confirm that this was not due to misappropriation of funds,” he said.
In bad faith
The disgruntled workers are represented by labour consultant Diaz Kavu, who has been mandated by at least 21 of the retrenched employees to find an amicable solution to the issue.
He argued that Jhpiego did not follow Section 34 of the Labour Act, and therefore the retrenched workers have a strong case against the organisation.
He added that the organisation bargained in bad faith as alternative options to dismissal were not exhausted.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Kavu the case has been set for 30 March.
[email protected]
Jhpiego faces a case of unfair labour practices after it hired over 20 workers on a 12-month contract last November, only to retrench them in February.
A case has since been lodged with the Office of the Labour Commissioner by disgruntled former employees from the Kavango East and Oshana regions.
However, according to Jhpiego country director Abubakari Mwinyi, all legal procedures were followed as far as the retrenchments are concerned.
“All legal procedures in line with Namibian labour laws were followed in the retrenchment of staff,” he said.
He added that the reasons for retrenchment was because the Adolescents and Children, HIV Incidence Reduction, Empowerment and Virus Elimination (ACHIEVE) project was restructured, while some staff members were absorbed by the Catholic AIDS Action (CAA).
Rubbished claims
“In early February this year, Jhpiego started the process of restructuring ACHIEVE in order to better meet the objectives and goals of this important programme,” he said.
“As part of this restructuring, a number of positions in the project organogram and activities were transitioned to CAA, our local partner who has been supporting the community work.
“That important work has now been fully transitioned to CAA, along with funding, to ensure sustainability of activities. As such, we did not need the same staffing component as previously engaged.”
Mwinyi also rubbished claims that funds were misappropriated.
“We confirm that this was not due to misappropriation of funds,” he said.
In bad faith
The disgruntled workers are represented by labour consultant Diaz Kavu, who has been mandated by at least 21 of the retrenched employees to find an amicable solution to the issue.
He argued that Jhpiego did not follow Section 34 of the Labour Act, and therefore the retrenched workers have a strong case against the organisation.
He added that the organisation bargained in bad faith as alternative options to dismissal were not exhausted.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Kavu the case has been set for 30 March.
[email protected]
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