Employers urged to pay salaries

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK



Employers across the country have been urged to ensure that their employees will be fully remunerated for the months of March and April. The directive was issued by labour ministry executive director, Bro-Matthew Shinguadja.

“Employers across all sectors are urged to ensure that all employees are fully remunerated for March and April. Should the situation persist, further arrangements will be put in place through genuine consultations if the situation does not stabilise by then,” Shinguadja said.

“If any kind of leave is to be taken, it should be mutually agreed [upon]. Forced unpaid leave is illegal and hence unacceptable,” he said.

Shinguadja urged employers to comply with the World Health Organisation's directives regarding the coronavirus. “All employers are once again reminded to ensure maximum compliance with the precautionary measures at the workplace as set out by the ministry as well as those by the ministry of health in order to help combat the coronavirus,” he said.

Shinguadja also urged companies not to retrench workers where it is being considered.

“The sector has learnt with great concern that some employers are opting to retrench workers while others are forcing employers to explore better ways to enable them to keep their employees during this time. In an event where employers, in consultation with trade unions, decide to temporarily send employees home as part of the precautionary measures to avoid such infections, such employers are urged to recall their employees back after the state of emergency and lockdown period,” Shinguadja said.

The Metal and Allied Workers Union had earlier called for employers not to force employees to take unpaid leave.