Air Namibia workers' case: Cruelty clothed as law
Sometimes, it’s a crime to be a worker – especially if one is among the 600-plus former Air Namibia workers. These breadwinners have been waiting four years to receive their payout.
They have demonstrated. Spoken to the media. Threatened. And now they have gone quiet. The liquidators are not budging. They want the Supreme Court to give them the right to deny the workers a severance that includes what Air Namibia contributed to their pay.
The liquidators have the right to protect Air Namibia’s assets while seeking every cent they can to pay all creditors. To deny workers their last salary simply because they are not regarded as preferred creditors, however, not only undermines their dignity but also comes across as cruel. This is money worked for and money earned. Air Namibia flew not by its might but by the workers’ sweat. One can ask: What is the difference between the liquidators - also human beings themselves - who have been paid N$16 million for work, some of which has not been completed and some of which has been outsourced, and the work these employees did for half of their lives at Air Namibia? It’s been about nine months now since liquidators appealed the High Court decision that sought to compel them to pay the workers every cent owed. That appeal means the workers have to wait even longer until the case is finalised.
Undoubtedly, the workers’ packages will not accumulate interest.
This has nothing to do with the liquidators but rather with labour laws. How can a human being with a family to feed and a life to live not be considered a preferred creditor? And why would it take this long for such a matter to be settled? Does this not sound like utter disregard for human lives?
They have demonstrated. Spoken to the media. Threatened. And now they have gone quiet. The liquidators are not budging. They want the Supreme Court to give them the right to deny the workers a severance that includes what Air Namibia contributed to their pay.
The liquidators have the right to protect Air Namibia’s assets while seeking every cent they can to pay all creditors. To deny workers their last salary simply because they are not regarded as preferred creditors, however, not only undermines their dignity but also comes across as cruel. This is money worked for and money earned. Air Namibia flew not by its might but by the workers’ sweat. One can ask: What is the difference between the liquidators - also human beings themselves - who have been paid N$16 million for work, some of which has not been completed and some of which has been outsourced, and the work these employees did for half of their lives at Air Namibia? It’s been about nine months now since liquidators appealed the High Court decision that sought to compel them to pay the workers every cent owed. That appeal means the workers have to wait even longer until the case is finalised.
Undoubtedly, the workers’ packages will not accumulate interest.
This has nothing to do with the liquidators but rather with labour laws. How can a human being with a family to feed and a life to live not be considered a preferred creditor? And why would it take this long for such a matter to be settled? Does this not sound like utter disregard for human lives?
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Namibian Sun
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