NTB staff discontent boils over

Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) staff members will hold a peaceful demonstration this morning, to amongst others, enquire about the missing Kora millions.

The demonstration is also being held in an attempt to secure a 10% salary hike, while other in-house matters will also be laid bare publically. The employees are also taking to issue with the fact that the NTB does not currently have a legal expert and pays excessively for legal fees.

The NTB employees will also air their displeasure over the fact that approximately N$10 million was used on its enterprises resourcing planning system, which can only be used by one person at a time.

“N$10 million was spent on the NTB's enterprise resource planning system which was not serving its purpose. Further to that, only one person could use the system at a time,” reads the petition seen by Namibian Sun. The NTB employees are also not happy that its board and CEO, Digu //Naobeb, went ahead and employed a pensioner to head its finance department. According to the petition, this goes against the NTB's policy. The employees also claim the human resources department is not involved in recruitment processes. The employees also say that the total cost to company principle the NTB is using to pay its employees was forcefully implemented without union concerns or staff agreement being taken into consideration, adding the basic plus remuneration policy, an outdated model, was still being used.

The NTB staff also say there is no transparency in terms of what their salaries are.

The salaries are said to change often. The staff pinned this on the fact that the NTB does not currently employ a payroll administrative officer. Board resolutions, they say, are not being shared with staff members through their labour union, despite a commitment by the NTB board chair to share such resolutions.

//Naobeb claims witch-hunt

//Naobeb, however, dismissed the claims raised by the NTB staff members and said they were part of a campaign to discredit him. According to //Naobeb, the petition was also being championed by some senior staff members who do not want disciplinary action to be taken against them. On the issue of the failure of the NTB to appoint a legal representative, //Naobeb justified the decision saying: “NTB has no company lawyer employed with the organisation. Thus it has outsourced its legal services. It is only logical that any organisation must be assisted by lawyers in legal matters.”

According to him, even big corporate entities use outside legal expertise in complex legal matters.

//Naobeb also defended the appointment of the NTB's 61-year-old financial manager, Freddie Scholtz.

“There is nothing illegal about appointing a retired person, as long as the person is not over 65 years of age, as per the Labour Act. Mr Scholtz is appointed on a fixed-term employment contract of two years, as opposed to permanently employed staff members, to whom the stated human resources policy applies,” said //Naobeb.

He added that in terms of the NTB Act under section 16 dealing with the powers of the board, subsection (k), the NTB board has the total discretion to employ persons on such terms and conditions as the board may determine necessary to conduct its affairs.

“Mr Scholtz appointment was so done in consultation with the board, thus [this] was done above board (sic),” said //Naobeb.

He further defended Scholtz's appointment, saying: “NTB paid the required security by the court and the matter is still ongoing. Mr Scholtz has a proven track record, hence NTB hired him. It would have been irresponsible for the company to operate without a financial expert and he has assisted greatly in ensuring that the finances of the company are up-to-date and has been very prudent.”

The Namibian reported last month that the NTB had two financial managers on its payroll, Scholtz and dismissed employee Ndapewa Kankondi.

Kankondi challenged her dismissal and subsequently won, The Namibian reported.

//Naobeb also not dispute that errors were picked up with the payroll system.

“We do not dispute this. Indeed this problem existed, which we have now rectified. There is no one organisation that has as a standard to pay the same salaries as the other,” said //Naobeb.

“The human resources department has wrongly and erroneously paying staff wrong salaries, which amounted to N$250 000 in overpayments and N$105 000 in underpayments, which staff members are not entitled to.

“We must now negotiate with the Government Institutions Pension Fund to seek refunds, which is very embarrassing error,” he added.

NTB human resources manager Benedict Nakuta, //Naobeb felt, should undergo a disciplinary process because of the errors in the payment system.

It was also not true that board resolutions were not being shared, //Naobeb said.

“Contrary to what is reported, my executive team shares annual work plans with their staff members, and even seek their input. However, all inputs cannot be taken on board. The executive committee must apply their minds as to the feasibility of such ideas and funds. Thus, staff cannot expect that any idea that they come up with must be accepted, as some are for self-interest, at times to collect subsistence and travel allowances,” //Naobeb said.

According to //Naobeb, staff members through the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) were demanding an excessive pay hike, leading to a deadlock in negotiations.

“It is not true that staff are demanding an 8% salary increase. What is on record is that the wage negotiation deadlock has been reached. Staff through Napwu are standing firmly at 10%, whereas in this economically challenging times, the NTB is looking to ease the burden of its employees and offered 6% despite inflation being way below 4%,” he said.

Union representative Gabes Andumba said the demonstration was being held in good faith. According to him, Napwu, of which he is deputy secretary-general, was mandated to stage the demonstration.

He said the NTB was not honouring a recognition agreement it had entered into. Andumba added the union could have reported the NTB to the Labour Commissioner but was seeking an amicable outcome.

OGONE TLHAGE