Fishermen given ultimatum to return to work
The ministries of fishing and labour have warned fishermen who have been reintegrated into the labour force not to cause ructions.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
The fisheries ministry has warned re-integrated fishermen refusing to return to work while earning a salary that they will be replaced with other unemployed fishermen.
Fisheries minister Derek Klazen and his labour counterpart Utoni Nujoma met with labour unions in the sector this week to discuss the issues affecting the industry including the so-called mushrooming of trade unions.
In a joint statement, the ministries cautioned that these labour unions are not operating in the interest of the workers and are likely to cause disruption or illegal strikes.
“The labour ministry wishes to caution the employees against causing disruptions in the sector, particularly during a challenging economic environment or backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. The fishermen are reminded that it is not easy to reintegrate people who have been out of employment for over five years,” the statement read.
They also cautioned the trade union not to politicise their plight and the process of reintegrating these fishermen into employment, as decisions were taken and agreed through consultations between government, employers and trade unions.
Long time coming
In 2015, more than 300 fishermen lost their jobs after they went on a strike demanding better wages, allowances and improved working conditions.
Following the so-called Fishrot scandal - which implicated two former Cabinet ministers, Bernhardt Esau and Sacky Shangala - government undertook to reemploy the fishermen.
This undertaking was eventually honoured this year after much insistence from pressure groups and local trade unions.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
The fisheries ministry has warned re-integrated fishermen refusing to return to work while earning a salary that they will be replaced with other unemployed fishermen.
Fisheries minister Derek Klazen and his labour counterpart Utoni Nujoma met with labour unions in the sector this week to discuss the issues affecting the industry including the so-called mushrooming of trade unions.
In a joint statement, the ministries cautioned that these labour unions are not operating in the interest of the workers and are likely to cause disruption or illegal strikes.
“The labour ministry wishes to caution the employees against causing disruptions in the sector, particularly during a challenging economic environment or backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. The fishermen are reminded that it is not easy to reintegrate people who have been out of employment for over five years,” the statement read.
They also cautioned the trade union not to politicise their plight and the process of reintegrating these fishermen into employment, as decisions were taken and agreed through consultations between government, employers and trade unions.
Long time coming
In 2015, more than 300 fishermen lost their jobs after they went on a strike demanding better wages, allowances and improved working conditions.
Following the so-called Fishrot scandal - which implicated two former Cabinet ministers, Bernhardt Esau and Sacky Shangala - government undertook to reemploy the fishermen.
This undertaking was eventually honoured this year after much insistence from pressure groups and local trade unions.
[email protected]
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