Cement mining and production at the Cheetah Cement factory outside Otjiwarongo have been at maximum level since the return of the employees who were on strike since July this year.
Cheetah Cement spokesperson, Tabby Moyo, in a telephonic interview with Nampa today said about 130 day shift employees who were on strike, are all back at work.
“Percentage wise it is about 97.7 per cent of workers who returned to work today (Wednesday) since the end of the strike Monday afternoon. The company has thus placed the cement mining and production at a maximum level,” he said.
The strike at the Cheetah Cement factory ended on Monday after the employees and management of the company signed a new wage agreement.
The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) signed on behalf of the workers, while the management of Whale Rock Cement, trading as Cheetah Cement, signed on behalf of the company, said Moyo.
The new wage deal includes a salary increase of N.dollars 1 000 across the board, a housing allowance of N.dollars 1 000 and the introduction of medical aid.
The company is expected to contribute 80 per cent towards the medical aid, while the employees as main members contribute 20 per cent.
“A new pension fund will also be introduced in January 2023 to which an employee of the company will contribute 25 per cent, and the company 75 per cent,” he said.
The employees will receive 12 months of back pay within 14 days, Moyo said.
(NAMPA)
MS/EK/AS
2 (HARARE, 09 NOV, XINHUA) – Zimbabwe has achieved and surpassed the global target on HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression, three years ahead of the set time, state news agency New Ziana reported today.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) aims for HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression rates to be 95 per cent-95 per cent-95 per cent by 2025.
Of all the HIV-positive people in the country, 95 per cent now have undetectable HIV-1 RNA regardless of previous diagnosis or antiretroviral therapy status, the news agency quoted Chiedza Mupanguri, an official from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, as saying.
Among those who know their status, the percentage has surpassed the required target and is now at 96 per cent; those who are positive and are on antiretroviral therapy are 97 per cent, said Mupanguri.
Precious Andifasi, the deputy co-coordinator for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission in the ministry, said the data shows that interventions are effective in increasing population viral suppression to very high levels.
XINHUA
3 (LIBREVILLE, 09 NOV, AFP) – The leaders of Chad’s two main opposition groups told AFP today that they were in hiding over fears for their safety, following a violent crackdown on demonstrations last month.
Succes Masra, head of the Transformers party, told AFP he was in ‘another country’ because he was wanted by the ‘presidential guard’.
Max Loalngar of Wakit Tamma said he was in ‘hiding somewhere within the country’ to avoid arrest.
The authorities say around 50 people died in clashes between security forces and anti-regime protesters last month – but the opposition says the actual toll was much higher.
Police violently repressed the demonstrations in the capital N’Djamena and several other cities, which also left hundreds wounded.
AFP
4 (ATHENS, 09 NOV, XINHUA) – Thousands of protesters staged a 24-hour general strike in Athens and other major Greek cities today, calling on the government to cope with inflation.
The strikes, organised by the unions of Greece’s public and private sectors, brought to a halt public services, such as schools, hospitals, and media, and also affected public transportation for hours.
Strikers asked for more support to cope with rising inflation which has decreased their purchasing power.
Official data showed the country’s annual inflation in September reached 12 per cent.
‘High prices are strangling households,’ read banners raised during the march in front of the parliament building.
Source: The Namibian News Agency
