Business Reporter
THE Secretary General of the National Union of Namibian Workers Union (NUNW), Job Muniaro, has dismissed claims that Meatco management is pushing workers to demand salary increments despite the organization’s financial difficulties and the need for government funding due to declining market conditions.
Meatco workers staged a protest this week, expressing dissatisfaction with their working conditions and demanding a 14% salary increment across the board. However, Meatco CEO Mwilima Mushokobanji rejected this request, explaining that the organization is not in a financial position to fulfill it.
The Deputy Secretary General of the Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAO) Absalom Wilhelma stated that the union will wait until July 27, 2023, as a dispute has been referred to the Labour Commissioner’s Office. He added that if the ruling made in the labour dispute by the Labour Commissioner is not favourable to the workers, they will proceed with a vote on whether to proceed with the strike.
Commenting on the matter, NUNW Secretary General Muniaro emphasized that salary increments are necessary to address the increasing cost of living.
“The same government is increasing the repo rate, and the repo rate is affecting workers in terms of their loans from banks. They are currently cash-strapped. The only way to improve the lives of workers is through salary increments. If the government wanted to alleviate this situation, they would have halted repo rate increments. This was done by the government of Botswana, which has the lowest repo rate. They lowered their repo rates to rescue workers’ salaries. You can’t say you don’t want to negotiate on salaries and then increase the cost of living through repo rate increments. How will these workers cope if housing and car payments have increased?” Muniaro questioned.
In recent weeks, Meatco CEO Mwilima Mushokobanji appealed for policy interventions to support the state-owned entity, which has experienced a significant decline in its market share in recent years due to underutilization of its abattoirs.
Mushokobanji shared these concerns during a consultative meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration. The petition also urged parliament to address the underdevelopment of the livestock market in the NCA’s (Northern Communal Areas), particularly in the regions of Kunene, Omusati, and Oshana, as a matter of urgency.
Mushokobanji noted that despite having enough cattle, Meatco is currently operating at a loss due to the underutilization of its abattoirs, caused in part by the increasing number of live animal exports, particularly to South Africa.
File photo for illustrative purposes only.
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