Kavetuna slams illegal strikes

ILLEGAL strikes, restructuring and retrenchments are hampering economic growth in the country, a ruling party MP in the National Council has warned.

Ferdinand Kavetuna said illegal strikes lead to terminations of employment and loss of income to employees and employers. “Restructuring and retrenchment is most of the time a capitalistic system, which is there to make more money at the expense of the people,” he said.Kavetuna was making a contribution during debate on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill in the House of Review.He called for the training of farmworkers to know their rights, “so that hiring and firing can be stopped on farms”.He said some farmworkers earned as little as N$429 a month, from which they have to buy their own food.”Someone cannot afford to live on this small amount,” said Kavetuna.The Swapo MP said poverty was forcing people to migrate to urban areas, causing informal living areas to expand every year.He said a town like Otjiwarongo had fewer than 30 000 people between 2001 and 2004 but it was now home to over 40 000.”These people are living in very harsh conditions and are also a burden on municipalities,” he said.Kavetuna then turned to private schools, accusing them of not adhering to the guidelines and instructions of the Ministry of Education.He said private schools open when they want and even close when they want.”Even now, with the extension of the school [holidays], they are going to open on May 22,” Kavetuna alleged.He said private schools should follow the rules, and called for an investigation into private school fees.”Let us not allow some people to make their own laws.There is only one government and that is the Swapo government, which makes laws for all of us,” he added.”Restructuring and retrenchment is most of the time a capitalistic system, which is there to make more money at the expense of the people,” he said.Kavetuna was making a contribution during debate on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill in the House of Review.He called for the training of farmworkers to know their rights, “so that hiring and firing can be stopped on farms”.He said some farmworkers earned as little as N$429 a month, from which they have to buy their own food.”Someone cannot afford to live on this small amount,” said Kavetuna.The Swapo MP said poverty was forcing people to migrate to urban areas, causing informal living areas to expand every year.He said a town like Otjiwarongo had fewer than 30 000 people between 2001 and 2004 but it was now home to over 40 000.”These people are living in very harsh conditions and are also a burden on municipalities,” he said.Kavetuna then turned to private schools, accusing them of not adhering to the guidelines and instructions of the Ministry of Education.He said private schools open when they want and even close when they want.”Even now, with the extension of the school [holidays], they are going to open on May 22,” Kavetuna alleged.He said private schools should follow the rules, and called for an investigation into private school fees.”Let us not allow some people to make their own laws.There is only one government and that is the Swapo government, which makes laws for all of us,” he added.