Nearly each week if not after every two days, somewhere in the country there are placards and hordes of people chanting and threatening to down tools as they demand for better wages and improved benefits, while in worst scenarios some end up losing their employment as a result of striving for bread and butter.
The prevalence of these widespread strikes have been described as a result of workers’ desperation to make ends meet, which is further exacerbated by employer’s exploitation of the workers for maximum profit gains.
Employees of Cheetah Cement in Otjiwarongo went on a strike after failed salary and allowances negotiations; while those of TransNamib which was also set for the same day was averted following a High Court Interdict.
Few weeks back, employees of dormant Road Construction Company (RCC) also revolted when the company wanted to make deductions of their allowance, and that was preceded by a series of other industrial strikes including that of NamibMills, Namibia Protection Security.
Another strike is looming, in which teachers countrywide are engaged in a ballot exercise to determine whether to or not picket.
Labour expert Herbert Jauch, equated these scenarios to the high desperation level, such that workers can no longer hold it because hunger is biting as they struggle to make ends meet, yet the cost of living is increasing exponentially while salaries remain stagnant. “Economy is on a meltdown, workers can’t afford to pay for things themselves. Those who are working are burdened by their relatives who lost jobs due to Covid-19 and other factors. So the strikes are increasing not because its a season, but because of failed negotiations where employers are failing to take the interests of their workers at heart,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, National Union for Namibian Workers Secretary General, Job Muniaro, lamented the unfortunate situation which he blamed on employers accusing them of exploiting employee salaries. He reasoned that employers just want to make profit but forget to take care of the needs of workers who are helping them make millions.
“The economy is not growing, it can only grow if employer and employee balance each other fairly. But for as long as employee salaries are subjected to exploitation the economy will remain stagnant as at the end of the day the company won’t generate an income, then eventually employees lose job, and eventually no income circulation.
Covid is no excuse
Both Muniaro and Jauch concurred that the Covid-19 pandemic should not be used as a scapegoat by employers and government because the issues of employee welfare comes a long way and has not been addressed; thus Covid has only just exacerbated the situation.
“You refuse to increase salaries even for 5%, what type of greediness is that? But when Covid came, you slashed their salaries by half, but these people stayed to keep your company afloat but now when things are moving and normalising you don’t want to give them little. And the little they are asking does not even equate to the money you reduced,” rhetorically asked Muniaro as he pleaded for change and better cohesion.
“Fuel is increasing, so you want workers to only use their salaries to fuel their car or taxi fare, just to continue working for you as if they don’t have other responsibilities. Those are some of the painful things provoking the situation,” stressed the unionist.
“Covid-19 should not even feature anywhere on excuses, the unemployment situation as well as poor salaries and wages dates many years back, and interventions were there, but nothing was implemented,” remarked Jauch.
Remedial
Jauch said interventions that were suggested by the labour industry such as improvement of productivity and value edition in Agriculture as well as the construction industry have not been pushed to the fore by central government and industry players, as he feels these are crucial sectors that can be an economic backbone.
“We need to identify short-term projects for implementation, instead of looking and hoping for Green Hydrogen to solve our current problem, as that is something to only work out after maybe 10 years. Therefore what we need now is to boost agriculture so we become food sustainable and provide jobs. Construction is another option, because many still want houses but that is not just happening,” he reiterated.
Muniaro said northern people cultivating mahangu should be empowered including those marking Omaere, so that value edition can be enhanced thereby producing variety of products to be consumed local thereby reducing reliance on imports.
“Lets come together, the economy is about food security and self-reliance. As it stands, the biltong that you dry under a tree cannot be sold in shops, but there one dried in a garage in South Africa is welcome, these sickening misplaced priorities, and are a result of the colonial mindset still inculcated in our minds. Lets empower and invest in our people, so that people can start making yogurt, butter and many products. Make sure we have seedling plantation and research stations where we can produce good quality seedling for improved yields,” suggested Muiaro, while emphasizing on improving indigenous skills.
Furthermore, he suggested this is the best time to consider and give Basic Income Grant, because it should be understood that the market cannot absorb everyone that is available.
