Chinese ‘having a field day in Namibia’

WINDHOEK – An opposition MP has expressed concern about the dominant role foreign companies play in Namibia’s construction industry.

Ben Ulenga of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) was speaking during a recent debate in the National Assembly on malpractices in the building industry. He said in recent years the industry had lost a number of old and experienced construction and engineering companies.Instead of being replaced by new, dynamic Namibian construction companies, the field was now dominated by foreign contractors, mainly Chinese state-owned companies, he said He said the problem with the foreign contractors was that they received preferential treatment from Government and were not competing on a level playing field with local businesses.According to Ulenga, Chinese and Korean contractors brought in their own bricklayers and assistants without any apparent resistance from immigration officials.He charged that foreign contractors also did not comply with basic labour requirements.Ulenga said there was no sign that Chinese or Korean companies were paying Social Security contributions or complying with the Affirmative Action Employment Act.”As recently as six months ago, the Employment Equity Commissioner (EEC) himself confirmed in correspondence that certain Chinese companies are in breach of the Affirmative Action Employment Act of 1998,” Ulenga said.He said although more than 50 per cent of Government building tenders went to Chinese contractors, the same could not be said about these contractors employing 50 per cent or more of the labour force in the industry.NampaHe said in recent years the industry had lost a number of old and experienced construction and engineering companies.Instead of being replaced by new, dynamic Namibian construction companies, the field was now dominated by foreign contractors, mainly Chinese state-owned companies, he said He said the problem with the foreign contractors was that they received preferential treatment from Government and were not competing on a level playing field with local businesses.According to Ulenga, Chinese and Korean contractors brought in their own bricklayers and assistants without any apparent resistance from immigration officials.He charged that foreign contractors also did not comply with basic labour requirements.Ulenga said there was no sign that Chinese or Korean companies were paying Social Security contributions or complying with the Affirmative Action Employment Act.”As recently as six months ago, the Employment Equity Commissioner (EEC) himself confirmed in correspondence that certain Chinese companies are in breach of the Affirmative Action Employment Act of 1998,” Ulenga said.He said although more than 50 per cent of Government building tenders went to Chinese contractors, the same could not be said about these contractors employing 50 per cent or more of the labour force in the industry.Nampa