Nafau goes ahead with industrial action

16 Oct '06

2 min read

Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) is going ahead with an industrial strike, following the outcome of a vote at Ramatex. Out of the 2,687 company workers, 2,457 voted in favour of a strike while only 241 were against industrial action.

The newly elected Secretary General said Nafau would follow procedures on industrial action as laid down in the Labour Act.

While accusing the Malaysian textile company of exploiting young Namibian workers at the factory, he noted that despite being fully aware of what is happening, the Namibian Government has not been doing anything.

Ramatex tried to stop industrial action by offering a 60 cents rise without negotiations. It has also indicated that it will have a workers' lockout if the workers do not accept the 60 cents per hour increase.

Nafau has two days to give notice of the impending industrial action to Ramatex in terms of the Labour Act.

The situation is growing tense because workers could lose their jobs. According to Namibian Company Act, Ramatex can hire new employees to keep the company in operation if workers go on strike.

Nafau has been demanding a double hourly rate, which ranges between N$3 and N$4, but in response Ramatex has only given an initial offer of a 10 cents to 15 cents increase, in last one year.

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