NHE AND PSUN Agree To End Strike

By: Fransina Nghidengwa
The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) and the Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) yesterday signed a settlement agreement to conclude the ongoing strike.
NHE staff downed tools on 24 February 2023 with a demand of a 7% increment, when 90% of the staff voted to go on strike, demanding an increment, and an end to nepotism, favouritism, and corruption in the parastatal.
NHE was publicly funded and mandated to provide and finance affordable housing to Namibia’s low-and middle-income earners.
The parastatal’s total wage bill for the year is estimated at N$89 million, making the staff cost the highest in the company.
NHE Chief Executive Officer Gisbertus Mukulu announced that the strike ended on Monday, 3 April after reaching an agreement with the staff and their union. They are expected to return to work on 11 April.
The agreed N$5,000 once-off payment to the employees is payable within two days of signing the settlement agreement.
The parties also agreed to commit themselves to achieve the company’s deliverables such as Enterprise Resource Planning ( ERP), Integrated Strategic Business Plan and Financial Audits ( 2017, 2018, 2019).
They also agreed to the reduction of arrears which, if successfully achieved, will enable the company to consider the union’s salary demands for the financial year 2022/2023.
Mukulu further said that the parties agreed that the status of the performance assessment on the deliverables and to have outstanding recognition and procedural agreement signed off on or before 30 April 2023, which will regulate the collective bargaining process between the parties on matters of mutual interest.
The PSUN, represented by Ujama Kaahangoro in his capacity as the Deputy Secretary General, said the no work-no pay principle will be implemented and deductions proportioned over eight months with the first deductions to be affected with the payroll of March 2023.
The management shall work together with the shop steward on the modalities for a smooth reintegration of the employees into operations.
“There shall be no retaliation, discrimination, or disciplinary action by the employer against any employee who participated in the industrial action,” Kaahangoro said.
He further said that the parties acknowledge that upon return to work, the employees are expected to continue with all the work irrespective of when the work came about including that which lay idle pending the outcome of the strike negotiations. Similarly, the parties take cognisance of the fact that a heavy workload arose as a result of the strike.
To diminish the workload, the backlog work needs to be attended which may necessitate overtime, such overtime to be agreed between the parties should be treated in pursuance of this agreement to eradicate the workload, he said.
The unionist further added that the employer agreed to waive the requirements relating to the payment of advances of the 13th cheque and allow employees to apply and access bonus advances in special circumstances following qualifying criteria.
“The only disappointment I can raise is the conduct of the official from the Labour Commissioner that was not helpful with the strike and the union and the company had to rely on its own agreements in ending the strike and we are not impressed,” he said.