NUNW warns against state capture
The umbrella federation says foreigners should not be trusted to run the country's affairs.
The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) said it will reject any attempt to privatise TransNamib, which is a state-owned enterprise.
It also threatened with a three-day general strike by its members across the country should any such plans be taken any further.
It said while the national carrier is a strategic asset, privatisation thereof will have adverse effects on workers.
“Our leaders are trying to load the burden on workers such as unemployment, poverty, layoffs, privatisation, commercialisation of public enterprises such as TransNamib, Air Namibia and the RCC [Road Construction Company],” the NUNW said at a press briefing on Thursday.
It said while these state enterprises are of strategic importance, there are “some people” who are “trying to exploit these opportunities in order to capture all enterprises and their production to themselves”.
After the suspension of two executive directors at TransNamib, Hippy Tjivikua and Struggle Ihuhua, the TransNamib board of directors announced that it would trim the staff complement of the company through “voluntary early exits” and “voluntary early retirements” before considering retrenchments as a last resort.
The NUNW said while the TransNamib board is “apparently worried about the financial situation of the company”, it has just approved an increase in sitting fees for board members without any authorisation from the government.
“Who should suspend who for their wrongdoing? Get rid of the board too,” said the NUNW.
Secretary-general of the NUNW, Job Muniaro, also said that it appears as if foreigners working at the parastatal are “untouchable”, saying all foreigners employed there “must go immediately”.
Truckers
The NUNW said the predicament of Namibian truck drivers stuck in Zambia cannot be tolerated, saying both countries should work to expedite a solution.
SME Bank
On the SME Bank, Muniaro said the shenanigans at the SME Bank over dubious investments of N$200 million in South African banks and suspensions of top Zimbabwean managers happened because foreigners are “trusted with the affairs of the country”.
It supported finance minister Calle Schlettwein's call to close the bank and says all contracts with foreigners at the bank should be terminated.
Catherine Sasman
It also threatened with a three-day general strike by its members across the country should any such plans be taken any further.
It said while the national carrier is a strategic asset, privatisation thereof will have adverse effects on workers.
“Our leaders are trying to load the burden on workers such as unemployment, poverty, layoffs, privatisation, commercialisation of public enterprises such as TransNamib, Air Namibia and the RCC [Road Construction Company],” the NUNW said at a press briefing on Thursday.
It said while these state enterprises are of strategic importance, there are “some people” who are “trying to exploit these opportunities in order to capture all enterprises and their production to themselves”.
After the suspension of two executive directors at TransNamib, Hippy Tjivikua and Struggle Ihuhua, the TransNamib board of directors announced that it would trim the staff complement of the company through “voluntary early exits” and “voluntary early retirements” before considering retrenchments as a last resort.
The NUNW said while the TransNamib board is “apparently worried about the financial situation of the company”, it has just approved an increase in sitting fees for board members without any authorisation from the government.
“Who should suspend who for their wrongdoing? Get rid of the board too,” said the NUNW.
Secretary-general of the NUNW, Job Muniaro, also said that it appears as if foreigners working at the parastatal are “untouchable”, saying all foreigners employed there “must go immediately”.
Truckers
The NUNW said the predicament of Namibian truck drivers stuck in Zambia cannot be tolerated, saying both countries should work to expedite a solution.
SME Bank
On the SME Bank, Muniaro said the shenanigans at the SME Bank over dubious investments of N$200 million in South African banks and suspensions of top Zimbabwean managers happened because foreigners are “trusted with the affairs of the country”.
It supported finance minister Calle Schlettwein's call to close the bank and says all contracts with foreigners at the bank should be terminated.
Catherine Sasman
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article