Meatco casual workers demand five-year contracts

MORE than 50 employees at the Meatco Katima Mulilo Abattoir are demanding that the company employ them on a fixed-term basis, with benefits.

The affected employees held a peaceful demonstration last week, spearheaded by the Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau), on Wednesday, to express dissatisfaction with their temporary employment contracts.

In a petition the employees argued that the Zambezi Meat Corporation and Meatco Namibia had renewed a five-year contract, but the affected employees only received a revised two-year contract. They are now wondering why they could not sign for the remaining three years as well.

“This will be a good thing for us, as far as job security is concerned. We want to register with insurance companies, but they will not allow us due to these short-term contracts. Last month, our revised two-year contract came with only social security, housing allowance, and a one-week payment whenever there is no work during the month. The doctrine of no work, no pay applies in this contract,” the petition read.

The petition futher revealed that there are no benefits for retrenchment packages as per the Labour Act, while the workers were promised last year that there would be better benefits such as bonuses at the end of each financial year.

“We are the ones who are producing good quality meat, which they are selling to Angola and Ghana. However, only the management and permanent staff receive full benefits from our sweat and blood. Let us share resources equally to address challenges such as unemployment, poverty and inequality at Meatco and in Namibia in general,” they said.

The workers further demanded the abolishment of the no work, no pay policy They also want a two-week payment when there is no work for a month, as they claim the company makes millions of dollars when there is production, more so now that they are exporting to Angola and Ghana.

“We will not sign the revised contract until our demands are met,” they said.

The workers have given Meatco management five working days to respond before taking further action.

National education and research coordinator, Lister Tawana, noted that they would engage Meatco to ensure terms and conditions of employment are met, as per the Labour Act.

“If they fail to do that, we will take further action by taking them to the Labour Court,” he warned.

The acting plant manager, Michael Kasokonya, received the petition on behalf of Meatco management.

Meatco chief executive officer Mwillima Mushokobanji said over the weekend that he is on compassionate leave and will only respond this week when he gets back to the office.

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