Otjozondjupa Governor, James Uerikua, accompanied by regional council chairperson, Marlayn Mbakera, on Monday afternoon held a meeting with the striking workers of Cheetah Cement factory at Otjiwarongo.

Uerikua told the workers who have been on strike since July this year that their strike has taken so long, therefore, urgent action is needed to end it.

Nearly 200 workers of Cheetah Cement have been on strike since their wage negotiations reached a deadlock in July, which forced the Office of the Labour Commissioner to rule in favour of industrial action.

“In two to three weeks, we will organise a big meeting that will work towards ending this strike and consequently get you back at work,” said Uerikua.

The governor stated that the meeting will include the Cheetah Cement board chairperson, Zedekias Gowaseb, labour inspectors and arbitrators as well as representatives from the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN).

He said the labour unrest at the factory will only come to end if the labour laws of the country are respected by both parties.

The striking workers told the governor that they are not prepared to go back and work for a salary of N.dollars 3 600 they earned before, as the cost of living has become unaffordable.

They also demanded for constructive discussion towards the introduction of company medical aid, housing and pension benefits.

Mbakera on her part said the wage dilemma at Cheetah Cement will come to an end once the company introduces a clear salary structure and stipulated salary grades that will apply to both Chinese and Namibia workers.

She said the current labour unrest at the company is unnecessary.

Cheetah Cement employs about 200 Namibians and 50 Chinese nationals.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency