Immigration officials plead for adequate resting days

Immigration officers at the Katima Mulilo border post have yet again expressed concerns over the toll a recently implemented duty rooster is taking on their mental and physical health, saying their cries to amicably resolve the issue have fallen on deaf ears.

“We need at least two off days and the night shift schedule revised. Before the new duty rooster was implemented, we had drawn up our duty rooster draft, which allowed for two off days. We submitted it to the ministry, but they ignored it,” a staff member, speaking anonymously, said.

The staff member stressed that their effectiveness and well-being are compromised when subjected to long working hours with only one off day.

The Katima Mulilo border post recently implemented around-the-clock services to allow for easy cross-border movement. However, the new duty roster, which involves extended working hours with only one day of rest, has left staff members suffering from stress and fatigue.

Claims of exploitation

During a recent visit by Namibian Sun to the border post, immigration officers did not shy away from admitting that their cries have fallen on deaf ears, despite their recent appeal to the home affairs and immigration ministry, through a letter addressed to its executive director Etienne Maritz.

“The biggest problem with the new duty roster is work-life balance. We work eight hours for five consecutive days, get one off day, and then go back to another eight hours a day for five consecutive days. We believe that the new duty rooster, especially with its night shift schedule, will result in serious health issues for us in the near future,” said another staff member.

In a letter to home affairs executive director Maritz earlier this month, the border officials stressed that the new roster gives them “zero chance to strike a balance between work and family” and that they feel exploited by it.

“We also wish to register our disappointment to learn that our managers have no say on the duty roster after we made numerous attempts to discuss how we are affected with them. Regional management claims, with high conviction, that the duty roster was imposed on them by head office to impose on us. We strongly believe our regional managers were supposed to be consulted and accorded a fair chance to accept or draft our duty roster.”

Labour matter

When reached for comment regarding the issue, spokesperson Margaret Kalo told Namibian Sun that the ministry is aware of the complaints and will look into the matter.

Maritz added that the ministry is using internal consultations to resolve the matter amicably in the best interest of the employer and employee. “In this regard, we will not provide specific answers to your questions, as this matter is a labour issue which should not be negotiated through the media.”

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