Job losses loom at Keetmans abattoir

THERE is no guarantee that workers at Karas Abattoir and Tannery Processors (KAT) will have jobs after the New Year.

KAT’s majority shareholder, the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) last week sold the company to Brukkaros Meat Processors (BMP) after racking up losses of N$124 million over the past five years. GIPF CEO Primus Hango yesterday informed workers in a letter that the parastatal could not guarantee them job security after the takeover scheduled for January 2.In addition, Hango said no retrenchment packages would be paid to KAT workers offered positions by the new owners.”This means that should an employee wish to have guaranteed employment at BMP, such employee needs to agree to move across to BMP without taking a retrenchment package from KAT,” he said.Hango said two of the five bidders for the buyout demanded that GIPF retrench the entire KAT workforce, while others wanted it to slash 50 per cent of the workforce of close to 200.The news sparked anger among the workers, who demanded immediate intervention by Karas Governor Dawid Boois and the Labour Office.”This is pure violation of the Labour Act,” an anonymous worker fumed.”To be honest, GIPF has auctioned us off to the new company,” the worker added.The workers also called for the immediate reinstatement of three KAT directors who were sacked by GIPF last week for allegedly delaying the takeover process.They are Board Chairman Risto Kapenda, Maru Tjihumino and Vilho Nghipondoka, who all represented GIPF interests on the KAT board.”GIPF merely fired the directors because they tried to protect the workers’ interests,” one worker said.The workers also took a swipe at KAT CEO Willem Swartz, accusing him of lying to them that the company’s financial position was sound.”At meetings he assured us that our future at the company is safe until December 2008 because of the sound financial position it finds itself in,” the worker said.Notice of retrenchments will be issued to the workers on or before November 30.GIPF CEO Primus Hango yesterday informed workers in a letter that the parastatal could not guarantee them job security after the takeover scheduled for January 2.In addition, Hango said no retrenchment packages would be paid to KAT workers offered positions by the new owners.”This means that should an employee wish to have guaranteed employment at BMP, such employee needs to agree to move across to BMP without taking a retrenchment package from KAT,” he said.Hango said two of the five bidders for the buyout demanded that GIPF retrench the entire KAT workforce, while others wanted it to slash 50 per cent of the workforce of close to 200.The news sparked anger among the workers, who demanded immediate intervention by Karas Governor Dawid Boois and the Labour Office.”This is pure violation of the Labour Act,” an anonymous worker fumed.”To be honest, GIPF has auctioned us off to the new company,” the worker added.The workers also called for the immediate reinstatement of three KAT directors who were sacked by GIPF last week for allegedly delaying the takeover process.They are Board Chairman Risto Kapenda, Maru Tjihumino and Vilho Nghipondoka, who all represented GIPF interests on the KAT board.”GIPF merely fired the directors because they tried to protect the workers’ interests,” one worker said.The workers also took a swipe at KAT CEO Willem Swartz, accusing him of lying to them that the company’s financial position was sound.”At meetings he assured us that our future at the company is safe until December 2008 because of the sound financial position it finds itself in,” the worker said.Notice of retrenchments will be issued to the workers on or before November 30.