Police remove protesters from Walvis Bay harbour
About 40 casual workers of the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) were removed by the police last week after they had been camping illegally in front of the Namport offices in Walvis Bay.
More than 250 workers were informed last week that their services were no longer required after a manpower analysis performed by the company concluded that casual labour was an unnecessary expense.
A quarter of these workers resorted to camping illegally in front of the offices to demand reinstatement.
An eviction notice was served on them on 11 February.
The notice stated that the action was unlawful, was interrupting port operations and was preventing Namport employees from attending to their duties.
About 12 of the protesters were taken to the Walvis Bay police station after they allegedly became aggressive towards the officers.
Commissioner Andreas Nelumbu, the regional police commander, said they were warned but not formally charged.
“If they attempt to camp or squat in front of the Namport offices again, we will arrest and formally charge them,” he said.
Namport CEO Bisey Uirab said the casual workers never had formal employment contracts with Namport but were used as needed, depending on fish volumes.
He said the company had not embarked on a retrenchment exercise, but simply stopped rendering fish packing services.
In addition, Namport has taken several other steps to cut costs and improve efficiency.
The labourers have filed a dispute with the labour commissioner's office.
LEANDREA LOUW
More than 250 workers were informed last week that their services were no longer required after a manpower analysis performed by the company concluded that casual labour was an unnecessary expense.
A quarter of these workers resorted to camping illegally in front of the offices to demand reinstatement.
An eviction notice was served on them on 11 February.
The notice stated that the action was unlawful, was interrupting port operations and was preventing Namport employees from attending to their duties.
About 12 of the protesters were taken to the Walvis Bay police station after they allegedly became aggressive towards the officers.
Commissioner Andreas Nelumbu, the regional police commander, said they were warned but not formally charged.
“If they attempt to camp or squat in front of the Namport offices again, we will arrest and formally charge them,” he said.
Namport CEO Bisey Uirab said the casual workers never had formal employment contracts with Namport but were used as needed, depending on fish volumes.
He said the company had not embarked on a retrenchment exercise, but simply stopped rendering fish packing services.
In addition, Namport has taken several other steps to cut costs and improve efficiency.
The labourers have filed a dispute with the labour commissioner's office.
LEANDREA LOUW
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