Diamond cutters return to work

WORKERS who went on an illegal strike at a local diamond cutting and polishing company last Thursday reported back to work on Monday.

About 120 of the 500 workers at Lev Leviev Diamonds (LLD) refused to work and had prevented those willing to work from entering the premises of the company in the northern industrial area since Thursday. They complained that the new contracts the company wanted them to sign by July 31 were unfavourable.”The situation is back to normal,” Kombadayedu Kapwanga, Managing Director of LLD, said on Monday.”We are busy reviewing the new contracts to present to the workforce for signature over the next few days,” Kapwanga told The Namibian.In terms of the new agreement, the diamond cutters and polishers will earn a basic salary only if they reach minimum production targets.”They get paid commission on carats above the daily target of eight stones a day or 170 diamonds per month,” Kapwanga added.About a quarter of the workers in the factory were unhappy with that, but the MD pointed out that employees had to be given set targets, otherwise some would not polish one single diamond a month.”Trainees would receive a monthly allowance of N$600 a month for the first three months and then N$900 a month, depending in which section they work,” Kapwanga said.After they graduate from the training period – usually after a year – they received employment contracts for 12 months.”Those who perform well and work above target can earn up to N$4 000 a month as a diamond cutter and polisher,” Kapwanga told The Namibian.The LLD diamond cutting and polishing plant has been in operation for two years.”Now we want to give new contracts to the workers on a more permanent basis,” the MD said.But some workers claim they did not get the increase to N$900.”Many of us are still on the N$600 basic salary,” a worker who spoke on condition of anonymity told this newspaper.Last Thursday saw some ugly scenes as those on strike prevented managers from entering the premises and even threw stones at the car of Ely Nefussy, managing director of the LLD sister company Samicor, which is housed on the same premises.”They even blocked my car when I arrived that day,” Kapwanga said on Monday.On Friday, management made it very clear that legal steps would be taken against those who continued striking this week.They complained that the new contracts the company wanted them to sign by July 31 were unfavourable.”The situation is back to normal,” Kombadayedu Kapwanga, Managing Director of LLD, said on Monday.”We are busy reviewing the new contracts to present to the workforce for signature over the next few days,” Kapwanga told The Namibian.In terms of the new agreement, the diamond cutters and polishers will earn a basic salary only if they reach minimum production targets.”They get paid commission on carats above the daily target of eight stones a day or 170 diamonds per month,” Kapwanga added.About a quarter of the workers in the factory were unhappy with that, but the MD pointed out that employees had to be given set targets, otherwise some would not polish one single diamond a month.”Trainees would receive a monthly allowance of N$600 a month for the first three months and then N$900 a month, depending in which section they work,” Kapwanga said.After they graduate from the training period – usually after a year – they received employment contracts for 12 months.”Those who perform well and work above target can earn up to N$4 000 a month as a diamond cutter and polisher,” Kapwanga told The Namibian.The LLD diamond cutting and polishing plant has been in operation for two years.”Now we want to give new contracts to the workers on a more permanent basis,” the MD said.But some workers claim they did not get the increase to N$900.”Many of us are still on the N$600 basic salary,” a worker who spoke on condition of anonymity told this newspaper.Last Thursday saw some ugly scenes as those on strike prevented managers from entering the premises and even threw stones at the car of Ely Nefussy, managing director of the LLD sister company Samicor, which is housed on the same premises.”They even blocked my car when I arrived that day,” Kapwanga said on Monday.On Friday, management made it very clear that legal steps would be taken against those who continued striking this week.