Windhoek: One month since employees of the City of Windhoek's (CoW) Solid Waste Management Division embarked on a protected strike, workers continue to camp outside the municipality's offices under difficult conditions, calling for better pay and benefits. Workers' representative, Max Kavara, on Sunday said the group initially began their strike at the Northern Industrial Area before moving to the CoW's headquarters, where they have now spent more than a week.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Kavara said the situation has become increasingly unbearable as the workers sleep on cardboard boxes without shelter, relying on well-wishers for food. 'We do not have access to toilets unless we pay to use nearby facilities. When it rains or the wind blows, there is nowhere to hide. The municipality told us not to enter their premises at all,' he said.

The workers, who are responsible for litter picking, street sweeping, and general cleaning services across the city, are demanding an increase in their monthly salaries from N.dollars 3,300 to N.dollars 8,000, along with medical aid and other employment benefits. Kavara stated that most of the employees have served the municipality since 2018 on fixed-term contracts without benefits or compensation for workplace injuries. 'We have families and children, but we cannot build houses or even provide properly for them,' he added.

Spokesperson of the group, John Paporo, expressed hope that the City would address their grievances. 'We have been here for close to a month now. We were informed that the councillors will meet on Monday, and we are waiting for feedback,' he told Nampa.