The Namibia Allied and Food Workers Union (Nafau) has called on meat companies affected by the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak to wait for the situation to improve before retrenching workers.
Nafau deputy general secretary Willem Absalom says companies should give the restrictions more time before cutting jobs.
“It is not a good time or appropriate time to retrench the employees,” he told The Namibian yesterday.
Absalom said the FMD outbreak was only confirmed last month and companies should not rush to retrench workers.
“So we are not happy with that. We are against the retrenchments,” he said.
His comments come as Beefcor Meat Suppliers considers retrenching 393 workers at its Okahandja abattoir.
The company informed employees last week that their jobs may be affected by the proposed retrenchments.
Beefcor chief executive Jurgens Twyman made the announcement in a memo seen by The Namibian to employees.
Beefcor says the FMD outbreak and restrictions on slaughtering, livestock movement and beef exports have affected its operations.
This week, the European Union (EU) suspended imports of some Namibian meat products due to the FMD outbreak.
Beefcor exports beef to the EU market.
The meat supplier says it has lost export income while it continues to carry operating costs.
A list attached to the notice shows that 393 workers could be affected, including slaughterers, cleaners, deboners, packers, trimmers, supervisors, maintenance workers and drivers.
Nafau and Beefcor are expected to meet at the Okahandja abattoir tomorrow to discuss the proposed retrenchments.
Absalom said the union will oppose the retrenchments and explore ways to protect workers’ jobs.
“We are going to arrange a meeting with Beefcor for us to engage and see how possible we can avoid the retrenchments. It’s not a good thing at all,” he said.
He said other companies in the meat industry are also affected by the FMD restrictions, but are waiting to see how the situation develops.
“I think all the companies need to wait three months to see,” Absalom said.
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations has also urged employers affected by the FMD outbreak to explore other ways of saving jobs before turning to retrenchments.
Ministry spokesperson Maria Hedimbi told The Namibian yesterday that retrenchment should be considered only as a last resort.
“The ministry encourages the affected employers to explore all possible alternatives, in accordance with applicable labour laws, aimed at preserving jobs before resorting to retrenchment as a last solution,” she said.
Hedimbi said the ministry is aware of the financial pressure the FMD outbreak has placed on affected businesses and the possible impact on jobs.
She said labour commissioner Kyllikki Sihlahla has received the notice of intention to retrench from Beefcor.
When approached by The Namibian for further comment yesterday, Beefcor director Jaco Swanepoel said: “No comment for now.”
Hedimbi said the ministry will inform the public if it issues any directive on the matter.
