Unions slam Ramatex secrecy

THE National Union of Namibian Workers has accused Government of having “clandestine” meetings with Ramatex without acknowledging union input on a volatile labour issue.

The Namibian has it on good authority that NUNW Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda wrote to Prime Minister Nahas Angula on Tuesday, demanding a meeting today to clear the air on the treatment the unions receive from Government on the Ramatex issue. The Office of the Prime Minister has confirmed that Angula will meet with the NUNW.The NUNW feels that Government does not value the union’s input and only approaches them when matters get out of hand.An example cited by some union leaders was Government calling them in when it was clear that Ramatex was about to leave the country and that the workers were about to end up on the streets.The NUNW accused Government of having “clandestine” meetings with Ramatex which were self-defeating, as their worth was only appreciated “when and if the situation fits Government best”.”The workers, under our leadership, demand to know why they were excluded from the recent talks and what those talks were about,” Kaaronda wrote in the letter to Prime Minister Nahas Angula.The letter was leaked to The Namibian.The umbrella union has already claimed Government is treating Ramatex with “kid gloves”, allegedly encouraging the Malaysian investors to be hostile towards Namibian workers.”The kid gloves with which Government, from the word go, treated Ramatex largely, if not absolutely, contributed to this company’s unfriendly and therefore hostile attitude towards the workers and our union,” Kaaronda said earlier.According to the NUNW, the Ministry of Trade has become the de facto spokesperson of the Ramatex Textile Factory in Windhoek.Ramatex informed Government recently that it was no longer interested in carrying on business in Namibia.However, in an about-turn, it later said it was business as usual and that the factory was working at full steam.Kaaronda said the NUNW was still convinced that there was nothing to indicate that Ramatex had changed its mind about shutting up and going home, or elsewhere.The NUNW Central Executive Committee said after a recent meeting that it was concerned that there was no agreement between the Government and Ramatex, except a business plan.The NUNW had proposed that an agreement be reached to reduce Government’s commitment and force Ramatex to spell out its future plans.Ramatex claims that productivity is not up to scratch and bad publicity over working conditions in the Namibian factory is costing the multi-billion-dollar company millions.The Office of the Prime Minister has confirmed that Angula will meet with the NUNW.The NUNW feels that Government does not value the union’s input and only approaches them when matters get out of hand.An example cited by some union leaders was Government calling them in when it was clear that Ramatex was about to leave the country and that the workers were about to end up on the streets.The NUNW accused Government of having “clandestine” meetings with Ramatex which were self-defeating, as their worth was only appreciated “when and if the situation fits Government best”.”The workers, under our leadership, demand to know why they were excluded from the recent talks and what those talks were about,” Kaaronda wrote in the letter to Prime Minister Nahas Angula.The letter was leaked to The Namibian.The umbrella union has already claimed Government is treating Ramatex with “kid gloves”, allegedly encouraging the Malaysian investors to be hostile towards Namibian workers.”The kid gloves with which Government, from the word go, treated Ramatex largely, if not absolutely, contributed to this company’s unfriendly and therefore hostile attitude towards the workers and our union,” Kaaronda said earlier.According to the NUNW, the Ministry of Trade has become the de facto spokesperson of the Ramatex Textile Factory in Windhoek.Ramatex informed Government recently that it was no longer interested in carrying on business in Namibia.However, in an about-turn, it later said it was business as usual and that the factory was working at full steam.Kaaronda said the NUNW was still convinced that there was nothing to indicate that Ramatex had changed its mind about shutting up and going home, or elsewhere.The NUNW Central Executive Committee said after a recent meeting that it was concerned that there was no agreement between the Government and Ramatex, except a business plan.The NUNW had proposed that an agreement be reached to reduce Government’s commitment and force Ramatex to spell out its future plans.Ramatex claims that productivity is not up to scratch and bad publicity over working conditions in the Namibian factory is costing the multi-billion-dollar company millions.