Ministry to investigate Neckartal builder

The Deputy Minister of Labour, Alpheus Muheua, has confirmed that there will be an urgent investigation into the Italian company, Salini Impregilo, that is responsible for building the Neckartal Dam in southern Namibia. This follows a string of allegations by workers at the construction site involving sexual harassment, health hazards, salary discrepancies, physical assault, favouritism and the promotion of female colleagues who have sexual relations with managers. Muheua yesterday told Namibian Sun that he was aware of some of these allegations and that they were of a serious nature. He said the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) had brought health-and-safety issues to his attention, but he was not aware of allegations of sexual harassment and “bedroom promotion”. According to the union there are health and safety hazards at the Neckartal Dam site which could expose workers to various illnesses because they are working without protective clothing. Salary discrepancies were also raised. Muheua said the union had asked the ministry for urgent intervention and gave the company until February 2 to rectify the situation. Muheua said the sexual-harassment allegations would also be investigated. “We will investigate everything,” he said. Workers have complained that some women are given jobs at the Neckartal Dam site because they have sexual relationships with the Italian project managers. There are also allegations that a drunken Italian concrete supervisor had abused a Namibian worker in a dining hall on November 17 last year. According to the woman involved in the incident she was called a “black prostitute”. There have also been claims of sexual harassment and that workers are not being given the proper safety equipment. Muheua could not confirm when the team would be dispatched to the South, but said the matter is urgent and that the investigation will take place as soon as possible. The Italian company yesterday declined to discuss the allegations by the workers. A list of questions sent to the company was replied to with a standard comment saying: “Salini Impregilo has a policy of zero tolerance regarding inadequate behaviour. What’s more, it holds the same position regarding false accusations of this type of behaviour.” Asked whether these allegations would be investigated, the company declined to comment. WINDHOEK ELLANIE SMIT