Rundu workers protest ‘draconian’ working conditions

A suspended Rundu Cash and Carry employee - who was part of a group which held a peaceful demonstration last week over poor working conditions - said she was once told to come to work wearing a nappy after she asked for permission to use the bathroom.This is just one of the shocking details that emerged from the employees over the ill treatment they receive in their working environment at the hands of their bosses.“When you ask for toilet paper to go and use the toilet, you will be asked why you did not come wearing a nappy. They even say that one has just arrived at work and you already want to go to the toilet,” one of the suspended workers told Namibian Sun on the sidelines of the peaceful demonstration.Apart from their discontent over poor remuneration, 276 employees contracted through Tsumeb politician-cum-businessman Gotty Ndjendjela’s recruitment agency have described their employers as having no regard for human dignity.Ndjendjela, who serves as the Tsuemb constituency councillor, owns the controversial Employees Placement Services Namibia CC (EPSN).Workers marched from the Rundu Sports Stadium to the office of Kavango East regional governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, who received their petition.The workers have been suspended until 8 February after they took part in what has been dubbed an illegal strike on 28 December 2022.The strike emanated after the employees expressed their grievances over the manner in which they are being treated, and said they resorted to a protest after their employer failed to meet their demands.InvestigateAccording to the petition read on their behalf by community member Vincent Kanyetu, the workers are demanding that all challenges faced by them be addressed.It is alleged that the employees don’t have written contracts of employment while there also exist no disciplinary records for them.The workers don’t receive monthly pay slips, they said, while bemoaning a lack of protective clothing as well as a lack of disciplinary codes and procedures.“We demand that the grievances of the workers, with regard to the unprocedural and unfair dismissals, be investigated by the labour inspectors,” the petition read.Prove itWhen contacted for comment, Ndjendjela told Namibian Sun that he is willing to pay as much as N$50 000 to any person who is able to prove that his agency defrauds workers of their monies.With his agency being employees’ paymaster, he said EPSN pays workers what is due to them as signed in their contracts, while a separate payment is paid to the agency by the client for their service.“Previously I said N$10 000, but now I am willing to pay N$50 000 to a person who will be able to get me successfully prosecuted in the court of law. I don’t take anything from what is due to the workers,” he said.On the issue of salary increments, Ndjendjela said some of those who are demanding a raise only started working two months ago.As far as the issue of ill treatment is concerned, he said he has learnt of the allegations and has engaged his clients.He added that he is not sure when employees will return to work as it will depend on the outcome of hearings that recently took place, which some workers failed to attend.kenya@namibiansun.com

Rundu workers protest ‘draconian’ working conditions

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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Rundu workers protest ‘draconian’ working conditions

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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