Staff Writer
Cheetah Cement factory management has now written, through its lawyers, to the Mine Workers Union (MUN), accusing it of breaking striking rules by interfering with non-striking workers and thus bringing production to an effective halt.
But the union’s leading proponent of the strike, Naftal Nghipitwako, has brushed off the accusations, telling this publication that their lawyers are now handling the matter.
“The allegation that the company is having is that their production has come to a standstill, but in terms of the rules that we have, if there was a violation, the matter was supposed to have been brought to our attention, and so far, nothing was brought to our attention. So, we feel like the company is trying to use the power of other ministries and all those involved to hijack the whole process so that they get production running,” said Nghipitwako.
He has accused Cheetah Cement of using hired workers from APS.
The Chinese-owned mega-cement plant, situated in Otjiwarongo, is amid a crippling strike as workers push for 100 per cent medical aid coverage and fair treatment on housing benefits.
The company’s consulting spokesperson Taby Moyo said, “What I can tell you is that there have been some violations of the agreed strike rules by the striking workers. One agreed rule was that the striking workers should not interfere with the non-striking workers.”
“They should not block access into and outside the factory, but this, unfortunately, has not always been the case. We have had a lot of incidences of the striking workers blocking non-striking workers, and as a result, production on the site has now ground to a halt.”
In the meantime, the MUN has expressed unhappiness at the cold-shoulder treatment given to the strike by the labour ministry and the regional governor, James Uerikua.
Uerikua presided over a high stake meeting a few months ago when complaints of unfair labour practices hit the factory leading to its temporary closure.
But this time around, Nghipitwako said Uerikua has not been on the ground to meet both parties for a possible solution to the impasse.
“The line ministry, especially the ministry of labour and the ministry of mines, our hope was that they were supposed to come on board. Unfortunately, we never heard anything from them until today. So, it is disappointing that our government has left the Chinese to do what they want, and they have left the employees to be exploited without their intervention. We are disappointed in the government of Otjozondjupa, these are people with executive powers that were supposed to bring both parties on the table, but they are quiet,” he said.
Cheetah Cement general management last week expressed that a job blood bath is in the offing beyond the strike, which may affect as many as 115 workers.
The management said the workers on strike would not be paid for the duration of the industrial action while, at the same time, their transport benefits have been cut off.
But MUN is accusing the company of targeting local Namibians in its retrenchment plan, with none of the available foreign workers being affected.
Nghipitwako said, “There are laws that govern retrenchments. How do you tell me about retrenchment when you have 47 foreign nationals that are not affected? What is the role of investors if the investment agreement is to create jobs for Namibians? What are you saying when you want to retrench the Namibians and keep the Chinese? So, we are not entertaining the issue of retrenchment because we know it’s a no-go issue. We will not entertain it.”
Moyo confirmed that, indeed, the retrenchment will hit locals and not foreigners but said plans are in the pipeline to ensure that by next year there won’t be a Chinese employee at the plant with roles taken over by locals.
“Remember the issue of the Chinese workers that came? I mean, this is a long-standing issue. The Chinese that came some three to four years ago were over 100, and the number of these workers has been reducing every year to the extent that this year we are looking at around 40 or 45 of the remaining Chinese. So the issue of retrenchment is not directly affecting the Chinese because the number has reduced, and hopefully, by next year, all those jobs will be taken over by the Namibians,” he said.
