Farmers’ body backs farm evictions policy

THE Agricultural Employers’ Association (AEA), an affiliate of the Namibia Agricultural Union, says it supports a proposed Government policy that seeks to prohibit the outright eviction of farmworkers.

In a statement yesterday, AEA Chairman Helmut Foertsch said his association was consulted on the development of the interim intervention policy on evictions for farmworkers and would advise members to adhere to the policy. The policy calls for consultation on three successive levels before evictions can take place.”In the case of retrenchment and pensioning, ample time (up to eight months) should be given for relocation.This policy will stay in place until the Commission of Inquiry on the evictions of long serving farm workers will come up with its findings and recommendations to address the evictions of farm workers in the long run,” said Foertsch.He called on farmers to take into consideration both the moral aspects and their social responsibility towards their employees when retrenching or dismissing them.”It is, however, necessary to stress that employees also have to take responsibility for their families and their actions.Employees do also have an obligation towards their employers to uphold a high standard of work ethics,” he said.Meanwhile, the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) quoted Labour Minister Marco Hausiku as saying the policy on farm evictions would be launched at the end of this week.The policy was approved by Cabinet at its first meeting of the year.The policy calls for consultation on three successive levels before evictions can take place.”In the case of retrenchment and pensioning, ample time (up to eight months) should be given for relocation.This policy will stay in place until the Commission of Inquiry on the evictions of long serving farm workers will come up with its findings and recommendations to address the evictions of farm workers in the long run,” said Foertsch.He called on farmers to take into consideration both the moral aspects and their social responsibility towards their employees when retrenching or dismissing them.”It is, however, necessary to stress that employees also have to take responsibility for their families and their actions.Employees do also have an obligation towards their employers to uphold a high standard of work ethics,” he said.Meanwhile, the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) quoted Labour Minister Marco Hausiku as saying the policy on farm evictions would be launched at the end of this week.The policy was approved by Cabinet at its first meeting of the year.