LPM wants free housing for Namdeb workers

A group of disgruntled workers handed over a petition to Namdeb Diamond Corporation on Tuesday containing several demands, including the provision of free accommodation.The Landless Peoples Movement (LPM) delivered a petition to Namdeb on behalf of the employees."The community is tired of being milked dry through rentals. Daberas employees had to sign new contracts of employment under duress (either to sign new contracts or face retrenchment) without any negotiations with the union as per Section 50 of the Labour Act (Act 11 of 2007),” the petition reads."Now they are forced to rent expensive accommodation facilities or face homelessness. If Daberas employees are labelled as trying to be treated special, reference is made to the Bogenvels employees, who had the very same terms and conditions of employment, which were negotiated after a strike in 2011," the petition notes. Stranded LPM also wants Namdeb to allow the Daberas employees to reside in the accommodation for free until proper negotiations with the mine workers&#039; union are concluded."Namdeb should construct firewalls and sell rooms to individuals through sectional title deeds, and promote land and home ownership," the party further said.The petition came days after LPM&#039;s councillor in Oranjemund, Guame Stephanus, shared a video with the media in which Namdeb workers are seemingly stranded at a bus stop after being forced to sleep in expensive accommodation.The party demanded that the company make provision for the workers to live "for free" as per their conditions of employment.In addition, if the company refuses to do that, they should suggest that employees rent the accommodation for the price of N$500 monthly.Internal procedures Contacted for comment this week, Namdeb&#039;s head of corporate affairs and sustainable impact, Pauline Thomas, said “whilst we recognise the employee concerns raised through various stakeholders, it should be noted that Namdeb has existing internal channels and communication forums for employees to address concerns.”Thomas further reminded workers that the Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) is the recognised employee representative.“Namdeb does not negotiate or discuss employee concerns via political parties," Thomas concluded.

LPM wants free housing for Namdeb workers

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-05

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LPM wants free housing for Namdeb workers

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-05

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