More than 600 employees of Gendev Fishing Group remain camped outside the company’s premises in Walvis Bay as a wage dispute between the company and the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers’ Union (NASAWU) enters its third week.
The workers have been camped outside the company’s premises since 23 July after rejecting the latest wage proposal presented during negotiations. The dispute centres on the workers’ basic salaries, working hours and conditions of employment. Gendev initially proposed increasing the guaranteed monthly salary from N$2 960 for 98 hours to N$6 700 for 195 hours.
NASAWU has disputed the way the proposed salary is calculated and has maintained that employees should receive the full basic salary based on 195 working hours. The latest disagreement concerns a proposal by Gendev to pay workers 70% of their guaranteed basic salary during periods when the company is not fully operational. Based on a preliminary basic salary of approximately N$6 060, the 70% arrangement would amount to approximately N$4 200 during such periods.
Gendev Managing Director Ruby Rees confirmed the revised proposal, explaining that it was based on the company’s current financial and operational circumstances. “The company is offering 70% of the basic salaries in the periods that the company is not fully operational,” Rees said. According to Rees, meeting the union’s demand for the full basic salary would depend on the company securing sufficient fishing quota and access to viable fishing grounds. NASAWU remains opposed to the 70% proposal and maintains that workers should receive their full guaranteed salary regardless of whether the company is fully operational. The union and workers have also raised concerns about the possible effect of the proposed arrangement on employment-related benefits, including leave payments, pension contributions and social security.
NASAWU has further raised concerns about allowances and what it describes as possible underpayments relating to sick leave, annual leave and public holidays. These matters remain part of the dispute between the union and the company. While negotiations continue, the striking workers have remained outside the company’s premises, where they have been sleeping during the dispute. Some workers have expressed frustration over the situation, saying they feel their concerns have not received sufficient attention from management. Workers have also spoken about the difficulty of remaining outside in cold and adverse weather conditions and have raised concerns about interactions with company officials.
The Namib Times understands that the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations has previously stressed the importance of workers being given sufficient time to consider proposed changes to their employment conditions. The ongoing dispute has left hundreds of employees and their families waiting for an agreement between the parties. Both sides remain apart on key aspects of the proposed salary structure, with NASAWU continuing to push for what it regards as a fair and guaranteed basic salary, while Gendev has maintained that its proposal is linked to the company’s current operational and financial circumstances. The strike and negotiations remain ongoing, with no final agreement reached at the time of going to print.
The Namib Times will continue to follow developments and report on any further proposals, negotiations or agreements between Gendev Fishing Group and NASAWU.
By Rudi Bowe
