The Namibia Informal Traders and Shebeen Workers Union (NITSWU) on Friday demonstrated against the conduct of some labour arbitrators, alleging that they are not competent enough to defend the rights of workers.
The demonstration was staged in front of the Ministry of Labour, Industrialisation and Employment Creation where the union’s Secretary General Mathew Stephanus handed over a petition to the ministry’s Acting Executive Director, Lydia Indombo with various demands.
In their petition, Stephanus claimed that some arbitrators in the ministry only work for their own gain and accumulation at the expense of workers, as they take bribes from employers to stop investigating unfair labour practices that workers face on a daily basis. The union is, therefore, requesting minister Utoni Nuyoma to investigate the arbitrators and hold them accountable for failing workers.
‘Employees are subjected to humiliation and insults and underpaid with no social security protection at all. We are demanding fair treatment for employees, we are sick and tired of Namibian and foreign companies not complying with the relevant legislations,’ said Stephanus.
He added that all workers should be treated equally and not as second class citizens because article 10 of the Namibian constitution guarantees all citizens equal rights, but as it stands, article 10 is being undermined by many employers.
‘Most employers have drawn a line between two zones, that being for those who are reserved for all sort of benefits and the masses such as cleaners, security guards and all perceived second class employees who are not recognised by either their employers or government,’ stated Stephanus.
He also took issue with the office of the Labour Commissioner for delaying the finalisation of cases filed by the union, which according to him, take up to three years to be finalised.
While receiving the petition, Indombo said the minister is not in office due to other equally important commitments, but gave her assurance that he will receive the petition and revert back to the union in due course.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
