Employed in November, retrenched in February
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
A global non-governmental organisation operating in Namibia which claims to be experiencing financial difficulties has retrenched over 20 workers this month. Some of those employees were only recruited in November last year.
The now unemployed workers regard the action as unfair and plan put up a fight against Jhpiego, a health organisation affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University.
Hailing from various regions, the retrenched employees were working on the DREAMS-ACHIEVE project aimed at empowering adolescent girls and young women on teenage pregnancies, reducing gender-based violence and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The project has implemented in several regions in the country.
According to documents seen by Namibian Sun, the organisation informed the workers on 24 January about the potential retrenchment this month. Over 20 employees then received a letter on 17 February confirming their retrenchment.
A one-line sentence, as per the letter by Jhpeigo country director Abubakari Mwinyi, indicated that the reason for retrenchment is financial constraints.
The affected workers however feel that they were unfairly retrenched and have now turned to a labour consultant to fight for the justice they seek.
In bad faith
Labour consultant Diaz Kavu over the weekend told Namibian Sun he is mandated by at least 21 of the retrenched workers to find an amicable solution to their issue.
He argued that Jhpeigo did not follow Section 34 of the Labour Act, and therefore the retrenched workers have a strong case against the organisation.
He added that the organisation bargained in bad faith as alternative options to dismissal were not exhausted.
Mwinyi did not respond to a letter of grievances in which the workers demand to see the company’s financial statements, Kavu said.
He said he will today refer the matter to the Office of the Labour Commissioner.
Mwinyi did not respond to questions sent to him by the time of going to print, despite promising to revert back to this reporter. He was asked whether he misappropriated the company’s funds as is alleged by the workers.
[email protected]
RUNDU
A global non-governmental organisation operating in Namibia which claims to be experiencing financial difficulties has retrenched over 20 workers this month. Some of those employees were only recruited in November last year.
The now unemployed workers regard the action as unfair and plan put up a fight against Jhpiego, a health organisation affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University.
Hailing from various regions, the retrenched employees were working on the DREAMS-ACHIEVE project aimed at empowering adolescent girls and young women on teenage pregnancies, reducing gender-based violence and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The project has implemented in several regions in the country.
According to documents seen by Namibian Sun, the organisation informed the workers on 24 January about the potential retrenchment this month. Over 20 employees then received a letter on 17 February confirming their retrenchment.
A one-line sentence, as per the letter by Jhpeigo country director Abubakari Mwinyi, indicated that the reason for retrenchment is financial constraints.
The affected workers however feel that they were unfairly retrenched and have now turned to a labour consultant to fight for the justice they seek.
In bad faith
Labour consultant Diaz Kavu over the weekend told Namibian Sun he is mandated by at least 21 of the retrenched workers to find an amicable solution to their issue.
He argued that Jhpeigo did not follow Section 34 of the Labour Act, and therefore the retrenched workers have a strong case against the organisation.
He added that the organisation bargained in bad faith as alternative options to dismissal were not exhausted.
Mwinyi did not respond to a letter of grievances in which the workers demand to see the company’s financial statements, Kavu said.
He said he will today refer the matter to the Office of the Labour Commissioner.
Mwinyi did not respond to questions sent to him by the time of going to print, despite promising to revert back to this reporter. He was asked whether he misappropriated the company’s funds as is alleged by the workers.
[email protected]
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