Grape firm offers new retrenchment deal

NEW retrenchment packages for 164 workers are to be negotiated with striking employees at the Grape Valley Management Company at Aussenkehr in the Karas Region.

Retrenched workers, unhappy with their packages, have been blockading entrances to the office building, affecting the running of the business. General Manager of the Grape Valley Management Company, Andre Vermaak, told The Namibian on Wednesday that management and the union had reached an agreement on reviewing the retrenchment packages for the 164.He said it was decided to start fresh retrenchment negotiations.Vermaak said the company also agreed to pay the striking workers for the five days they went on strike.”This the company has done out of goodwill just to restore the situation to tranquillity,” he said.It was also agreed that the retrenched workers would be first in line when the company hired seasonal workers.Vermaak blamed a lack of communication for the labour unrest.The deadline for finalising the retrenchment negotiations has been set for the end of the month.The company has said that retrenchments had been necessitated by a decline in business and the depreciation of the US$ against the Namibian dollar.General Manager of the Grape Valley Management Company, Andre Vermaak, told The Namibian on Wednesday that management and the union had reached an agreement on reviewing the retrenchment packages for the 164.He said it was decided to start fresh retrenchment negotiations.Vermaak said the company also agreed to pay the striking workers for the five days they went on strike.”This the company has done out of goodwill just to restore the situation to tranquillity,” he said.It was also agreed that the retrenched workers would be first in line when the company hired seasonal workers.Vermaak blamed a lack of communication for the labour unrest.The deadline for finalising the retrenchment negotiations has been set for the end of the month.The company has said that retrenchments had been necessitated by a decline in business and the depreciation of the US$ against the Namibian dollar.