Erasmus Shalihaxwe Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Member of Parliament Elvis Lizazi has criticised the continued exploitation of workers through labour hire companies, calling it a “lingering injustice” in an independent Namibia. Speaking during his maiden parliamentary contribution on Wednesday, Lizazi said the issue should have been addressed long ago. “Labour hire in Namibia should be a thing of the past but remains a daily reality,” said Lizazi, who also serves as IPC’s shadow minister of Justice and Labour Relations.  He referenced the landmark 2009 Supreme Court judgement that struck down a ban on labour hires, calling the Africa Personnel Services (APS) case a painful reminder of unresolved challenges. “Even with our Labour Act and the recent introduction of a national minimum wage, enforcement is alarmingly weak,” he said. Lizazi pointed out that the country currently has only 51 labour inspectors nationwide, a number he said is insufficient to ensure compliance. “With such a thin inspectorate, abusive employers slip through the cracks. Many employers continue to ignore basic working conditions and minimum wage laws because the chance of a government inspection is slim,” he added. Lizazi also addressed issues within the justice system, welcoming the government’s decision to raise the legal aid income threshold from N$5 000 to N$7 000 and the appointment of more legal aid counsel. However, he expressed concern over the persistent backlog of cases in Namibia’s courts. “Our courts face crippling backlogs and delays. Magistrates’ court dockets are overflowing, and thousands of cases remain unheard or unfinished. Some cases have stretched for several years,” said Lizazi. He noted that criminal trials are particularly affected, with many accused persons held in custody for extended periods without trial. According to Lizazi, the delays are partly due to a shortage of judicial officers and court resources. He cited remote magistrate circuits that sit only once a month, leaving legal matters unresolved for long periods. He concluded by emphasising the role of Parliament in holding the executive accountable. “The legislative arm must ensure that the executive delivers on its priorities. I will not remain silent if budgets meant to uplift the vulnerable are misdirected,” he said.

The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations through its labour inspectorate has recovered over N$2 million on behalf of various employees from their non-compliant employers during the 2024/25 financial year. The amount collected between 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 was part of wage arrears and other statutory entitlements that were unlawfully withheld from employees by their employers across various sectors. This was announced on Thursday in a statement by the ministry’s chief public relations officer Maria Hedimbi. “This recovery emanated from 3 317 of the 4 176 labour complaints which were reported to the ministry during the same period. The instances of non-compliance were non-payment of remuneration, non- payment of overtime, non-payment of work done on Sundays/public holidays and/or unauthorised and excessive deductions from employees’ remunerations. This ongoing trend of non-compliance is a great concern to the ministry,” she said. She said the highest recovery is from the central region (Windhoek, Gobabis, Rehoboth, Okahandja, Omaruru, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay) whereby an amount of N$722 119 was collected. The smallest amount of N$130 608 was collected from the southern region namely, Mariental, Keetmanshoop, Karasburg, Noordower, Rosh Pinah, Oranjemund and Lüderitz. The ministry further conducted a total of 1 739 workplace inspections to assess the basic conditions of employment during the same period. Of these inspections, 1 380 workplaces were found to be compliant while 353 were in contravention with the provisions of labour laws. The post Over N$2m collected in labour complaints appeared first on The Namibian.

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Justicia Shipena Former employees of Namsov and Heinaste say they are suffering mental, emotional and physical distress due to the government’s failure to resolve their back pay. The fishermen, supported by the Mining, Metal, Maritime and Construction Workers Union (MMMCWU), have threatened to approach the Office of the President and take legal action if their demands are not met by Friday. The group, which is part of the government’s redress programme following the Fishrot scandal, travelled from Walvis Bay to Windhoek and protested outside Government Park on Tuesday. They are demanding that fishing quotas be reallocated to Blue Chromis PTY Ltd, a company they say offers fair and stable employment. “We stand here not in protest, but in determined pursuit of justice and dignity for Namibian workers,” said MMMCWU secretary general Joseph Garoeb during the handover of the petition to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. Garoeb said the affected workers have been on “no work, no pay” contracts since December 2022. He claimed that millions worth of quotas have been allocated to companies with no proven capacity, while workers continue to suffer. The union is calling for the immediate reallocation of quotas from Hangana Sea Food, Merlus Fishing, Iyaloo Women Investment, and Novanam Fishing to Blue Chromis PTY Ltd. Garoeb said the company has emerged as the workers’ preferred employer over the past five months due to its offer of permanent contracts, a take-home salary of N$8,400, housing allowances, pension, and a share-based fish commission. “This proposal reflects the kind of dignified employment workers deserve,” said Garoeb. He said the offer from Blue Chromis has already led other companies to revise their own conditions. The union further claims the current quota allocation process violated the designation agreement, as quotas were issued before employment contracts were signed. Workers reportedly earn as little as N$1,200 to N$2,000 per month, while quotas are valued at up to N$700,000. Garoeb accused civil servants responsible for the redress programme of failing to uphold accountability and showing arrogance toward the affected workers. He also called for the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry, including representatives from the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Namibian Police, labour experts, and worker representatives, to investigate irregularities in the quota allocation process. “Laws and policies have been ignored, while some unions with quota ownership have conflicted interests, further worsening the suffering of workers,” said Garoeb. According to the petition, the fisheries minister gave assurances on 18 May 2025 that the matter would be resolved politically or socially. However, the fishermen say no tangible action has followed. “We request that future allocations be made with proper engagement and formal employment agreements that honour the workers’ choice of employer,” the petition reads. David Sheehama, one of the fishermen affected, said he is unable to support his family. “I am suffering. I cannot even express it. I want my back pay to help my child further her studies,” he told the Windhoek Observer. Executive director in the ministry of fisheries, Teofelus Nghitila, received the petition on behalf of the minister. “The ministry will continue to engage with you as it has been the case. We really are committed to resolve the issue. I met with you two times and we are addressing one matter at a time. As we speak, most of the employees are now back to work. This back pay is a new matter which you had forwarded to our office and it is receiving attention from the ministry,” he said. Nghitila said the ministry’s engagement with the workers has been constructive and expressed confidence in reaching a solution. This week’s protest follows a similar demonstration four months ago by around 400 former employees of Heinaste and Namsov 73, who had gone without pay for three months. They had refused to sign contracts with the companies allocated to them under the redress programme.

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Former Hartlief Corporation Ltd employees who were dismissed in December 2022 say they are frustrated by delays in receiving an arbitration ruling from the Office of the Labour Commissioner, more than two years after their case was heard. The case was heard in February 2024 by arbitrator Louise Likando, and closing arguments were submitted in April. Since then, the workers say they have made repeated follow-ups but have not received a clear explanation for the delay. They were initially promised a ruling in February, then again in early March, and now by 31 March, but none of these dates materialised. “We were unfairly dismissed in December 2022. The way and manner in which we were dismissed were inhumane, unfair, degrading, and humiliating. It was arbitrary and malicious. We have exhausted all avenues, and hence we are reaching out to the media for assistance,” said Ruben Nghifimule, the group spokesperson. National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) secretary general, Job Muniaro, has raised concerns about the prolonged delay, stating that such practices undermine workers’ rights. “When such cases are not finalised, it becomes very frustrating. You have a case that keeps getting postponed from one day to another, then another year, and in the meantime, people’s lives are being affected. It is very worrisome because it raises questions about whether workers are truly protected under our laws,” Muniaro said. He also criticised arbitrators for citing a lack of time to issue awards, despite the long delays. “You wonder what time they don’t have because no awards are being issued. This process is putting workers under immense frustration. Some lose their vehicles and properties, and they are destroyed emotionally. This is not fair. Many issues need to be addressed in the Labour Act, and we are currently working on amendments to correct such unfair practices,’ he said. When contacted for comment, Labour Commissioner Kyllikki Sihlahla said she had received feedback from arbitrator Likando, who assured that the ruling would be delivered by 31 April. The workers believe their dismissal is linked to a strike in December 2021, when around 100 Hartlief employees demonstrated against austerity measures, including a 20% salary cut and the removal of several benefits such as bonuses, overtime pay, and staff discounts.  The workers were represented by the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU). The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group acquired a 60% stake in Hartlief Corporation Limited in 2019, a move that was met with resistance by some employees.

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