MVA Fund workers demonstrate
A peaceful lunchtime demonstration was held at the MVA Fund yesterday with workers complaining about the company's performance policy.
A group of employees at the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund yesterday held a peaceful demonstration and handed over a petition to management in which they expressed their dissatisfaction regarding working conditions.
“We want the money. No money, no performance. Down performance, down. Down performance policy down,” workers shouted outside the headquarters of the MVA Fund in Windhoek.
The main point of concern that was highlighted was with regard to the reviewed and approved policy on performance management.
According to the deputy general-secretary of the Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu), Samuel Vries, consultations and negotiations pertaining to the policy were not done as per the recognition and procedural agreement between MVA Fund and the union.
Furthermore, negotiations for salary increases which started the beginning of this year were also a point of concern.
Engagements have apparently taken place with the Ministry of Public Enterprises over the directive that was issued that there is a cap on salary increases, but still the union and the MVA Fund management have not been able to see eye to eye.
The union explains that the ministry has said that there may be an exemption because of a previous agreement that has been in place since 2011 between the Fund and the union, however the Fund says that there is a misinterpretation of the information.
Vries said that the management is hiding and are claiming that their finances are not good. “If this is the case they should open their books. What are they afraid of? What is there that management should hide?”
Furthermore, the union said that there are other labour-related concerns of workers which include policies that are being charged without approval or consultation of workers.
Another concern is victimisation of workers by management, workload pressure and unreasonable targets which results in workers that cannot perform, no training, no transparency of promotions and favouritism, as well as intimidation.
Vries said demonstrations will continue daily until management engages with them on the issues they have raised.
The Fund's CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku told Namibian Sun earlier that negotiations usually take place at the beginning of the year, but this year they were stalled because the union wanted clarity with regard to the salary increases that were capped at inflation.
She said a meeting was held with the ministry last week on the issue but there were different interpretations.
ELLANIE SMIT
“We want the money. No money, no performance. Down performance, down. Down performance policy down,” workers shouted outside the headquarters of the MVA Fund in Windhoek.
The main point of concern that was highlighted was with regard to the reviewed and approved policy on performance management.
According to the deputy general-secretary of the Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu), Samuel Vries, consultations and negotiations pertaining to the policy were not done as per the recognition and procedural agreement between MVA Fund and the union.
Furthermore, negotiations for salary increases which started the beginning of this year were also a point of concern.
Engagements have apparently taken place with the Ministry of Public Enterprises over the directive that was issued that there is a cap on salary increases, but still the union and the MVA Fund management have not been able to see eye to eye.
The union explains that the ministry has said that there may be an exemption because of a previous agreement that has been in place since 2011 between the Fund and the union, however the Fund says that there is a misinterpretation of the information.
Vries said that the management is hiding and are claiming that their finances are not good. “If this is the case they should open their books. What are they afraid of? What is there that management should hide?”
Furthermore, the union said that there are other labour-related concerns of workers which include policies that are being charged without approval or consultation of workers.
Another concern is victimisation of workers by management, workload pressure and unreasonable targets which results in workers that cannot perform, no training, no transparency of promotions and favouritism, as well as intimidation.
Vries said demonstrations will continue daily until management engages with them on the issues they have raised.
The Fund's CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku told Namibian Sun earlier that negotiations usually take place at the beginning of the year, but this year they were stalled because the union wanted clarity with regard to the salary increases that were capped at inflation.
She said a meeting was held with the ministry last week on the issue but there were different interpretations.
ELLANIE SMIT
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