Ramatex’s restive workforce begins unhappy New Year

THE state of labour relations at Ramatex became even more vexed yesterday with an estimated to 300 to 400 ethnic-Chinese workers downing tools in a protest action.

This is the first time that grievances among the factory’s foreign workforce have boiled over into a work stoppage. Company management said last night that the workers – who could not be reached for comment themselves – were concerned at the economic consequences of having to pay for medical tests ordered by the company late last year.In the early afternoon, dozens of Asian workers were seen milling around between the canteen and their hostel on the company premises.Security guards were spotted trying to break up a gathering of workers between the two buildings.The exact number of workers who abandoned their posts is also unclear, but sources indicated to The Namibian that they were from factories A and B, which are among the earliest structures built on the compound.Ramatex Berhad (Company) Executive Director Albert Lim Poh Boon, who has been in the country since the beginning of the week, said between 300 and 400 workers had been involved in the stoppage.”They sought clarification of whether the cost of hepatitis A tests, among others, would be met by the company, Lim said.”I explained to them that the cost of tests for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy cannot be shouldered by the company,” he said.Lim played down any suggestion that the workers had a real grievance with their employer.”It’s the Chinese way,” he said.”If leaders come, they (the Chinese) want to see and hear from the leaders’ mouths”.Lim said the industrial action was only temporary and that he had been assured the workers would return to the workplace this morning.”They were eager to see me.We talked, and everything is very happy.They will go back to work”.Last month, Ramatex ordered hepatitis A and other medical tests for some members of the workforce, mostly Filipinos, prompting another bout of discontent.The factory runs two separate human resources departments: one for Namibian workers, one for the Asians.In the past, it was largely Namibian workers who voiced unhappiness about working conditions at the factory.Last year, they were involved in a protracted battle with company management over employee benefits and working conditions, which led to a strike, a short factory closure and a court case, still pending, over what they claim were unfair dismissals stemming from the strike.Last month, Asian factory workers for the first time publicly raised their grievances about working conditions at the multi-million-dollar enterprise.In a petition to the Philippines government conveyed through Manila’s embassy in South Africa, 700 Filipino workers appealed for help in negotiating better working conditions: they cited poor wages, cramped living conditions and hygiene as their most pressing concerns.The embassy has expressed a wish to make an official visit to the factory to apprise itself of the actual state of affairs.Last month The Namibian also learned that the Deputy Minister in charge of employment creation, Hadino Hishongwa, has asked the National Union of Namibian Workers to investigate labour relations at Ramatex.The Deputy Minister complained that so many Asians were being employed at the garment factories.Company management said last night that the workers – who could not be reached for comment themselves – were concerned at the economic consequences of having to pay for medical tests ordered by the company late last year. In the early afternoon, dozens of Asian workers were seen milling around between the canteen and their hostel on the company premises. Security guards were spotted trying to break up a gathering of workers between the two buildings. The exact number of workers who abandoned their posts is also unclear, but sources indicated to The Namibian that they were from factories A and B, which are among the earliest structures built on the compound. Ramatex Berhad (Company) Executive Director Albert Lim Poh Boon, who has been in the country since the beginning of the week, said between 300 and 400 workers had been involved in the stoppage. “They sought clarification of whether the cost of hepatitis A tests, among others, would be met by the company, Lim said. “I explained to them that the cost of tests for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy cannot be shouldered by the company,” he said. Lim played down any suggestion that the workers had a real grievance with their employer. “It’s the Chinese way,” he said. “If leaders come, they (the Chinese) want to see and hear from the leaders’ mouths”. Lim said the industrial action was only temporary and that he had been assured the workers would return to the workplace this morning. “They were eager to see me. We talked, and everything is very happy. They will go back to work”. Last month, Ramatex ordered hepatitis A and other medical tests for some members of the workforce, mostly Filipinos, prompting another bout of discontent. The factory runs two separate human resources departments: one for Namibian workers, one for the Asians. In the past, it was largely Namibian workers who voiced unhappiness about working conditions at the factory. Last year, they were involved in a protracted battle with company management over employee benefits and working conditions, which led to a strike, a short factory closure and a court case, still pending, over what they claim were unfair dismissals stemming from the strike. Last month, Asian factory workers for the first time publicly raised their grievances about working conditions at the multi-million-dollar enterprise. In a petition to the Philippines government conveyed through Manila’s embassy in South Africa, 700 Filipino workers appealed for help in negotiating better working conditions: they cited poor wages, cramped living conditions and hygiene as their most pressing concerns. The embassy has expressed a wish to make an official visit to the factory to apprise itself of the actual state of affairs. Last month The Namibian also learned that the Deputy Minister in charge of employment creation, Hadino Hishongwa, has asked the National Union of Namibian Workers to investigate labour relations at Ramatex. The Deputy Minister complained that so many Asians were being employed at the garment factories.