Farmers frustrated by labour disputes
Unfounded charges brought by dismissed farmworkers force farmers to leave their farms to attend hearings in town.
Commercial farmers say they are frustrated by workers lodging costly and drawn-out labour disputes when they are dismissed fairly and legally.
However, this may soon be something of the past, should amendments to the Labour Act be accepted.
These amendments will allow for inspections to be done into the lodged dispute before a conciliation process begins.
The Agricultural Employers' Association recently met with labour commissioner Henri Kassen, to discuss disputes by farmworkers and labour relations on commercial farms.
The discussions also focused on the role and function of the labour commissioner and that of the Agricultural Employers' Association, which promotes and advances labour relations on commercial farms.
Danie van Vuuren, representing the association, brought the frustration of commercial farmers accused of unfair dismissal to Kassen's attention.
According to the latest newsletter of the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU), numerous fired farmworkers have initiated disputes despite having been fairly dismissed.
Kassen informed the association that the Labour Act does not make provision for a process to verify whether the worker has a case or not.
According to Kassen, it can only be determined at a conciliation or arbitration hearing and unfortunately the employers have to pay the cost of going to town for the hearing.
The NAU said most labour disputes by farmworkers do not enter the arbitration phase and end in conciliation, where the employers pay an additional settlement amount.
According to the union, the Labour Act is being reviewed and one of the recommendations is that if a matter is reported to the labour office, it should be referred to a labour inspector for investigation and possible settlement before it is referred for conciliation.
“If so accepted and amended, the Act can save a lot of time and costs for both the employer and the employee.”
The labour commissioner's office has offered to give training about labour relationships on farmers' days.
ELLANIE SMIT
However, this may soon be something of the past, should amendments to the Labour Act be accepted.
These amendments will allow for inspections to be done into the lodged dispute before a conciliation process begins.
The Agricultural Employers' Association recently met with labour commissioner Henri Kassen, to discuss disputes by farmworkers and labour relations on commercial farms.
The discussions also focused on the role and function of the labour commissioner and that of the Agricultural Employers' Association, which promotes and advances labour relations on commercial farms.
Danie van Vuuren, representing the association, brought the frustration of commercial farmers accused of unfair dismissal to Kassen's attention.
According to the latest newsletter of the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU), numerous fired farmworkers have initiated disputes despite having been fairly dismissed.
Kassen informed the association that the Labour Act does not make provision for a process to verify whether the worker has a case or not.
According to Kassen, it can only be determined at a conciliation or arbitration hearing and unfortunately the employers have to pay the cost of going to town for the hearing.
The NAU said most labour disputes by farmworkers do not enter the arbitration phase and end in conciliation, where the employers pay an additional settlement amount.
According to the union, the Labour Act is being reviewed and one of the recommendations is that if a matter is reported to the labour office, it should be referred to a labour inspector for investigation and possible settlement before it is referred for conciliation.
“If so accepted and amended, the Act can save a lot of time and costs for both the employer and the employee.”
The labour commissioner's office has offered to give training about labour relationships on farmers' days.
ELLANIE SMIT
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