NWR was responding to recent claims by resorts workers that the company had not consulted them before leasing some resorts to private tourism operators.

On Friday, NWR employees from the Reho Spa, Daan Viljoen and Von Bach resorts staged a demonstration, demanding the right to negotiate favourable retrenchment packages.

They handed over a petition in which they threatened to sue NWR for unfair dismissal unless it responded to their demands within 48 hours.

But in a statement yesterday, NWR said these demands were ill advised and there would be no layoffs in terms of the agreements with private companies.

"In fact their continuous employment is protected and guaranteed in the … agreements, hence there is no need for retrenchment packages and associated benefits," said NWR.

NWR added that there would be no unlawful or irregular transfer of public assets to private concerns, since it was clearly stipulated in the agreements that there would be no alienation of State assets.

The NWR Act of 1998 specifically provides for the company to enter into a partnership or joint venture with any person, it pointed out.

It said the private partners would lease these assets from Government through NWR for a specified time.

The agreements were signed in Windhoek on July 17.

They allow private tourism operators to lease and operate the Daan Viljoen, Von Bach Dam and Reho Spa resorts and four campsites in the West Coast Recreation Area.

All the petrol stations at NWR camps will also be privately run.

At the signing, NWR Managing Director Tobie Aupindi said the move formed part of the company's turnaround strategy aimed at improving service levels and profitability.

Aupindi said with so many facilities in its portfolio, it was not possible for NWR to upgrade all the resorts at once.

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