Minister castigates labour hire firms

LABOUR Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko yesterday spoke out against companies responsible for the dismissal of hundreds of labour-hire contracted workers across the country.

Starting last week, companies representing various industries, including the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine, Woermann Brock, the Trade Centre and Etale Fishing, let go workers who were under contract to them from soon-to-be-illegal labour brokers.
More than 100 workers have been laid off by some companies.
Ngatjizeko accused these companies of violating the country’s laws and challenging Government’s authority.
“These companies have reportedly embarked upon massive dismissal of workers without following procedures laid down in the labour law, in apparent retaliation against Government and Parliament’s decision to ban the exploitative labour brokerage practices,” the Minister said.
Ngatjizeko said under Namibian law, the workers were supposed to have been given 30 days’ notice, during which period employers were to negotiate with them or their representatives.
“This ministry has mobilised all resources at its disposal to collect all relevant information and to ensure that every employer within the boundaries of this republic respects the laws of the state,” Ngatjizeko said.
The Minister’s statement came within days of national trade unions saying the same thing. Nafau on Monday registered a dispute of unfair dismissal with the office of the Labour Commissioner against the companies it knew of.
Ngatjizeko further raised his voice against labour-hire companies, which he said were apparently trying to “repackage” the concept of labour hire.
“What is even more disturbing is the fact that these companies do not only retaliate against Government and Parliament to ban labour hire, they have also started initiatives to circumvent the provisions of … the Labour Act… which prohibits labour hire. I would like therefore to state that this Government will not entertain a hide-and-seek game with any company that wants to circumvent the prohibition of labour hire through any new form of disguised identity,” he said.
Dismissed labour-hire workers have expressed concern about the establishment of various new companies, including Ekango Retail Solutions and Kwasha Maritime, under the ownership of current labour-hire company bosses.
In an interview with The Namibian last week, Africa Personnel Services (APS) spokesperson Johannes Kapembe, while not revealing details about the newly established Ekango, said that the company would be sure to act within the Namibian legal framework.
Ngatjizeko applauded companies that “showed patriotism” in terminating their service agreements with labour brokers and decided to employ directly all the affected workers.
He singled out Meatco and Namibia Breweries Limited.
“This is indeed commendable and we expect all companies to emulate their good example,” he said.
Section 128 of the Labour Act, the section which bans labour hire, takes effect on March 1.
APS has announced that it intends to appeal a recent court ruling which confirmed this section of the act as constitutional after APS last year challenged it.
A date for the hearing of this appeal is yet to be set.
– denver@namibian.com.na