RCC staff want CEO removed

Employees of the embattled Roads Contractor Company (RCC) picketed in front of its head office last week, demanding the removal of its interim CEO, Maria Nakale, whom they accuse of implementing unfavourable labour policies.

Among the demands and claims are that Nakale has reduced leave days accrued to employees, has created a toxic work environment, and has stripped the employees of a business unit of income while sending its employees home.

"The company has unilaterally reduced employee leave days to 12 days without any negotiations with the union and the employees, thereby violating Section 23 of the Labour Act," the petition claimed.

"The company should pay out all outstanding leave days to the current and former employees who have been affected by these changes upon retirement or resignation and that accrued leave days be reinstated," the petition demanded.

Contract details questioned

The employees also questioned why worker contracts were limited to six months while the company had projects in excess of that and claimed the RCC’s board of directors has three-year contracts,

"The company has various employees in its employment for periods up to 10 years, whereas these employees are only given six-month contracts while the company has projects in excess of such duration," the RCC employees claimed.

"This includes the youthful RCC bursary holders who are deprived of career growth. It also includes employees inherited by the RCC from government and the National Youth Council since 2004," the petition said.

The staff members called on the RCC’s management to bring the company’s labour provisions in line with the Labour Act.

"We demand that the company comply with all relevant provisions of the Labour Amendment Act of 2012, particularly Section 128 B, to request the deeming of all employees who are on six-month contracts to be deemed employees."

Union involvement

The employees also took issue with the cancellation of field allowances, which they claim was done under the instructions of Nakale.

"The company has unceremoniously stopped paying field allowances for four months to the camp watch and bitumen unit employed in the field under the request and directive of the interim CEO. They have since been informed to go home until further notice," the petition alleged.

In addition, the petition read: "The interim CEO, Ms Nakale, has created an irreparable and toxic work environment that is worsening every day, and her continuing being at the helm of the company has made it hugely impossible to the entire workforce; hence, we demand her immediate removal."

"We are giving the board seven working days to reply to all our demands in writing. We demand that a meeting with our recognised union, Napwu, and its workers representatives be held as soon as possible," the employees noted.

Contractors cry foul too

Meanwhile, contractors who have approached Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity said they feel victimised and forced to sign contracts without getting a proper chance to review them.

"The general blading contracts have been changed. These guys give us new contracts while they are reducing ground rates. We are now fulfilling our contracts for next to nothing. They get as much as 30% per contract while they are not doing anything," the contractors said.

"People fear speaking out for fear of victimisation; you just get threats. Contracts are given late, and we are afraid that if we delay signing these contracts, we will be told they will give it to other people," the contractors claimed.

The contractors alleged that the RCC was benefitting while not owning any machinery to perform any work.

"The RCC does not have any equipment, and that is why they brought in SMEs, yet we are living on next to nothing. We are on the ground every day, at the expense of SMEs," the contractors said.

Allegations denied

Nakale, for her part, denied subjecting contractors to any victimisation, saying such allegations had not been brought to her attention.

"I am not aware of any contractor being victimised. Any contractor who feels victimised must bring it to my attention," Nakale said.

Nakale did not respond to the other allegations that the RCC reduced the rates it paid to contractors without consultation, nor did she answer the allegation that little time was left for contractors to review the contracts they sign with the company as service providers.