NBC ordered to reinstate notch increases
After issuing a circular on its intentions to discontinue salary notch increases, the national broadcaster has been interdicted and restrained from taking any such further steps.
08 December 2021 | Labour
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
The Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has been ordered to reinstate notch increases by the Labour Court following a decision it had made to discontinue the practice.
The NBC issued a circular where it made its intentions clear to implement a discontinuation of notch increases, which Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) lawyer Sisa Namandje called glaringly unlawful.
Making the order, the labour commissioner said NBC is “interdicted and restrained from taking any further steps relating to its unilateral revision of staff leave days… and its unilateral discontinuation of salary notch increases”.
NBC workers representative acting chairperson Johannes Lengi welcomed the decision, adding that the broadcaster had breached labour provisions entered into with employees.
“NBC was changing the policy under the pretext that Napwu lost its recognition status, but the dispute still going on,” he said.
According to him, NBC also had not resolved issues from a strike held earlier this year.
“Part of the agreements is establishing a committee to deal with workers issues, which the NBC did not do,” Lengi said.
Job security
In a memo, NBC director general Stanley Similo said the broadcaster’s stance was always to provide job security.
“Our position has always been to fight for the job security for all employees as has been said and amplified on many occasions consistently. An additional amount of N$141 million was allocated last week during the Mid-Term Budget Review process in Parliament, which is still subject to a review process by all parliamentarians,” he said.
Meanwhile, when contacted on NBC’s course of action going forward, spokesperson Umbi Karuaihe-Upi promised to respond, but failed to do so by the time of going to print.
WINDHOEK
The Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has been ordered to reinstate notch increases by the Labour Court following a decision it had made to discontinue the practice.
The NBC issued a circular where it made its intentions clear to implement a discontinuation of notch increases, which Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) lawyer Sisa Namandje called glaringly unlawful.
Making the order, the labour commissioner said NBC is “interdicted and restrained from taking any further steps relating to its unilateral revision of staff leave days… and its unilateral discontinuation of salary notch increases”.
NBC workers representative acting chairperson Johannes Lengi welcomed the decision, adding that the broadcaster had breached labour provisions entered into with employees.
“NBC was changing the policy under the pretext that Napwu lost its recognition status, but the dispute still going on,” he said.
According to him, NBC also had not resolved issues from a strike held earlier this year.
“Part of the agreements is establishing a committee to deal with workers issues, which the NBC did not do,” Lengi said.
Job security
In a memo, NBC director general Stanley Similo said the broadcaster’s stance was always to provide job security.
“Our position has always been to fight for the job security for all employees as has been said and amplified on many occasions consistently. An additional amount of N$141 million was allocated last week during the Mid-Term Budget Review process in Parliament, which is still subject to a review process by all parliamentarians,” he said.
Meanwhile, when contacted on NBC’s course of action going forward, spokesperson Umbi Karuaihe-Upi promised to respond, but failed to do so by the time of going to print.
Classifieds