Fishermen lose patience over pay conditions
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
The Namibia Fishing Industries and Fisheries Workers Union is asking for patience from its members who are demanding a pay hike. The union has been unable to negotiate better salaries for workers because a recognition agreement it entered into with Namsov Fishing has yet to come into effect.
Several Namsov workers had been reinstated through an agreement reached when the fisheries ministry took issue with the pay they are currently earning. The workers had lost their jobs because of quota allocation reductions their companies had been subjected to, largely due to the Fishrot corruption scandal.
The union, for its part, had signed recognition agreements with certain companies last September, but these are only expected to become active this September, according to its secretary-general Daniel Imbili.
“We can only start with the process in September. If we reach 12 months, then we can negotiate. If the workers give us time, we will look into that,” he said.
Better benefits
Fishermen whose jobs had been reinstated are also asking for their fringe benefits to be improved.
The workers currently receive basic pay of N$2 500, housing allowance of N$650 and a pension fund contribution of N$500 for their standby duties.
General workers receive a basic pay of N$23.45 per hour, an additional allowance based on work assigned, while sea-going remuneration is pegged at N$209.50 per hour and a fish commission based on respective fishing companies’ rates.
Tunacor CEO Peya Hitula said the company had the best intentions to provide employment to fishermen who had lost their jobs.
“Our group has been able to ensure the reemployment of former retrenched crew due to Namsov having lost the majority of its quota and selling three of its vessels as a result. That quota lost has never been reinstated to Namsov nor to Tunacor. Furthermore, Tunacor doesn’t have any horse mackerel rights,” he said.
“There will always be individuals who may not recognise our efforts on employment as well as other competitors fuelling rumours - particularly those not committed to the much-needed land-based development of the horse mackerel industry, he said.
WINDHOEK
The Namibia Fishing Industries and Fisheries Workers Union is asking for patience from its members who are demanding a pay hike. The union has been unable to negotiate better salaries for workers because a recognition agreement it entered into with Namsov Fishing has yet to come into effect.
Several Namsov workers had been reinstated through an agreement reached when the fisheries ministry took issue with the pay they are currently earning. The workers had lost their jobs because of quota allocation reductions their companies had been subjected to, largely due to the Fishrot corruption scandal.
The union, for its part, had signed recognition agreements with certain companies last September, but these are only expected to become active this September, according to its secretary-general Daniel Imbili.
“We can only start with the process in September. If we reach 12 months, then we can negotiate. If the workers give us time, we will look into that,” he said.
Better benefits
Fishermen whose jobs had been reinstated are also asking for their fringe benefits to be improved.
The workers currently receive basic pay of N$2 500, housing allowance of N$650 and a pension fund contribution of N$500 for their standby duties.
General workers receive a basic pay of N$23.45 per hour, an additional allowance based on work assigned, while sea-going remuneration is pegged at N$209.50 per hour and a fish commission based on respective fishing companies’ rates.
Tunacor CEO Peya Hitula said the company had the best intentions to provide employment to fishermen who had lost their jobs.
“Our group has been able to ensure the reemployment of former retrenched crew due to Namsov having lost the majority of its quota and selling three of its vessels as a result. That quota lost has never been reinstated to Namsov nor to Tunacor. Furthermore, Tunacor doesn’t have any horse mackerel rights,” he said.
“There will always be individuals who may not recognise our efforts on employment as well as other competitors fuelling rumours - particularly those not committed to the much-needed land-based development of the horse mackerel industry, he said.
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