Unpaid overtime sparks revolt at fisheries ministry

Fisheries workers, some of whom are integral to the country’s fight against illegal fishing in Namibian waters, have threatened to down tools if their outstanding overtime claims are not settled.

The situation has now seemingly pitted the ministry’s top bosses against the workers, with the latter claiming their concerns are not being taken seriously.

It is understood that overtime for fisheries observers and inspectors has been outstanding for more than four months, leaving workers no choice but to consider stopping overtime work, subsequently giving private fishing companies leeway to do as they please during their fishing expeditions without watchdogs on their vessels.

Workers have also accused the ministry’s leadership of going the extra mile to please fishing industry players while failing to sort out in-house operational matters that are central to the ministry’s mandate.

Waiting for a crisis

Meanwhile, fishing industry activists have cautioned that the situation could lead to the depletion of fish stocks because inspectors and observers are not out at sea to control and monitor fishing activities.

“Now we only work limited hours although we usually worked shifts. We do not exceed our hours because you do not get compensated for it. We repeatedly told the ministry to solve the overtime problems by paying us on time. Imagine not paying workers’ overtime for four months and you expect them to deliver,” one of the workers, who chose to remain anonymous, lamented.

Another worker said: “The ministry is not serious when it comes to the well-being of its workers and its mandate to protect the country’s marine resources because they always wait for a crisis before they act. Our overtime is always left hanging until we threaten to go on strike; only then is it attended to".

Not scared

Namibian Sun spoke to the workers last week after a meeting with the ministry’s executive director, Annely Haiphene, where the overtime matter was discussed in-depth.

According to ministerial insiders, Haiphene took a hard-line stance and blasted employees for turning to their unions and the media in a bid to solve the matter.

“Your overtime is there on my desk, see what your union will do to me. You guys are going to newspapers and [Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry] Venaani about this issue,” she allegedly quipped during the meeting.

She apparently added: “How can you talk [about] in-house things outside? You will see, go tell your union, I am not scared of your union”.

Haiphene read the riot act to the workers and urged them to improve on the delivery of customer service and overall discipline.

Her visit coincided with the launch of the ministry’s customer service charter at the Walvis Bay office.

Haiphene did not respond to calls and messages on the matter.