Shoprite discontent grows
Another labour union has joined the fray against South African retailer Shoprite/Checkers.
The Trade Union Congress of Namibia has added its voice to the list of organisations expressing their discontent with a decision by retailer Shoprite to proceed with disciplinary hearings against 142 workers who have been suspended for over two years.
Tucna president Paulus Hango demanded that the multinational company immediately drop charges and stop disciplinary proceedings against its workers in Namibia.
He said unless Shoprite dropped the disciplinary charges and engaged with workers and their unions in view of ensuring a living wage, consumers should ask themselves why they continued buying from a company that “trampled on workers' rights”.
Hango accused the company of continually violating workers' rights and playing a game of rule and divide by using the rivalry existing between trade unions to its own advantage.
“Shoprite has become notorious for its violations of the rights and laws of Namibian workers. The company must be called to order and put an end to its atrocious labour practices,” he said.
“The workers participated in the strike to defend themselves against discrimination and unilateral imposed salary increases. We salute their brave resistance and support their fight for justice, respect and dignity.
“Instead of engaging the workers on their demands for better wages, transport allowances and medical aid the company opted for disciplinary action. Instead of acceding to the workers' modest demands for better working conditions the company prefers to spend large amounts on a disciplinary hearing.” According to Hango an average Shoprite worker earns approximately N$1 500 per month or less.
Workers do not receive transport allowances and must spend between N$480 and N$960 on transport per month depending on where they live, according to the unionist.
In addition to this they have to pay rent of about N$1 000 and buy other basic necessities.
“Shoprite, on the other hand, boasted that it made a turnover of N$130 billion in 2016. This is wealth created by the very workers being denied an opportunity to share in it. It would take a worker at Shoprite 133 years to earn what the [former] CEO Whitey Basson makes in a month.”
Hango further criticised Shoprite for employing permanent part-timers who he said were actually employees working permanently on a part-time basis with contracts providing for a maximum of 45 working hours per week, which is the standard working hours for permanent employees.
He pointed out that an investigation by the ministry of labour in August 2015 found that a practice of segregated employment existed at Shoprite/Checkers retailers and that workers on part-time contracts were paid lower salaries than permanent employees in the same job categories.
The ministry subsequently recommended that the employment contracts be reviewed to remove any provision, definition, references or qualifying criterion making one employee category less favourable than the other.
“The ministry stated that the employment contracts of the two employment categories should be harmonised and brought squarely into the ambit of the Labour Act.
“Shoprite was also told to provide sound justifications for employing workers on fixed-term contracts, otherwise they should be permanently employed as stipulated in the Labour Amendment Act of 2007. It is not clear whether Shoprite accepted and acted on any of the recommendations.”
Hango also questioned the alleged absence of a formal internal grievance procedure or disciplinary code at Shoprite and said that allowed the company to do as it pleased regarding disciplinary matters.
“Handing out written and final warnings for offences without hearings seems to be the preferred tactic. Decisions concerning workers' wages and employment conditions are taken in South Africa with Shoprite Namibia having no authority and consequently cannot comply with requirements of the Namibian Labour Act in particular with regard to the obligation of collective bargaining.”
Shoprite last week promised to release a statement responding to the allegations.
However, at the time of going to press yesterday, no statement had been issued.
Karen Smith, Shoprite Namibia human resource manager, was also unavailable for comment yesterday.
OTIS FINCK
Tucna president Paulus Hango demanded that the multinational company immediately drop charges and stop disciplinary proceedings against its workers in Namibia.
He said unless Shoprite dropped the disciplinary charges and engaged with workers and their unions in view of ensuring a living wage, consumers should ask themselves why they continued buying from a company that “trampled on workers' rights”.
Hango accused the company of continually violating workers' rights and playing a game of rule and divide by using the rivalry existing between trade unions to its own advantage.
“Shoprite has become notorious for its violations of the rights and laws of Namibian workers. The company must be called to order and put an end to its atrocious labour practices,” he said.
“The workers participated in the strike to defend themselves against discrimination and unilateral imposed salary increases. We salute their brave resistance and support their fight for justice, respect and dignity.
“Instead of engaging the workers on their demands for better wages, transport allowances and medical aid the company opted for disciplinary action. Instead of acceding to the workers' modest demands for better working conditions the company prefers to spend large amounts on a disciplinary hearing.” According to Hango an average Shoprite worker earns approximately N$1 500 per month or less.
Workers do not receive transport allowances and must spend between N$480 and N$960 on transport per month depending on where they live, according to the unionist.
In addition to this they have to pay rent of about N$1 000 and buy other basic necessities.
“Shoprite, on the other hand, boasted that it made a turnover of N$130 billion in 2016. This is wealth created by the very workers being denied an opportunity to share in it. It would take a worker at Shoprite 133 years to earn what the [former] CEO Whitey Basson makes in a month.”
Hango further criticised Shoprite for employing permanent part-timers who he said were actually employees working permanently on a part-time basis with contracts providing for a maximum of 45 working hours per week, which is the standard working hours for permanent employees.
He pointed out that an investigation by the ministry of labour in August 2015 found that a practice of segregated employment existed at Shoprite/Checkers retailers and that workers on part-time contracts were paid lower salaries than permanent employees in the same job categories.
The ministry subsequently recommended that the employment contracts be reviewed to remove any provision, definition, references or qualifying criterion making one employee category less favourable than the other.
“The ministry stated that the employment contracts of the two employment categories should be harmonised and brought squarely into the ambit of the Labour Act.
“Shoprite was also told to provide sound justifications for employing workers on fixed-term contracts, otherwise they should be permanently employed as stipulated in the Labour Amendment Act of 2007. It is not clear whether Shoprite accepted and acted on any of the recommendations.”
Hango also questioned the alleged absence of a formal internal grievance procedure or disciplinary code at Shoprite and said that allowed the company to do as it pleased regarding disciplinary matters.
“Handing out written and final warnings for offences without hearings seems to be the preferred tactic. Decisions concerning workers' wages and employment conditions are taken in South Africa with Shoprite Namibia having no authority and consequently cannot comply with requirements of the Namibian Labour Act in particular with regard to the obligation of collective bargaining.”
Shoprite last week promised to release a statement responding to the allegations.
However, at the time of going to press yesterday, no statement had been issued.
Karen Smith, Shoprite Namibia human resource manager, was also unavailable for comment yesterday.
OTIS FINCK
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article