Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has been directed to conduct a forensic audit of the operations and financial affairs of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) following allegations of financial mismanagement and non-compliance with labour laws.
According to a parliamentary report seen by the Windhoek Observer, the audit will specifically examine the N$5.4 million in performance bonuses paid to NBC executives and the N$1.9 million spent on a vehicle for the director general.
“The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and NBC were reluctant to find a lasting and amicable solution to the strike. NBC Management paid themselves performance bonuses amounting to N$5.4 million. NBC bought a motor vehicle worth N$1.9 million for the Director General,” read the report.
The report also recommends that the ministry hold NBC accountable for three missing computers containing sensitive financial data, which have not been reported to the police.
The findings of the report paint a picture of the impact of the NBC strike on employees, who have suffered financial hardship.
According to the report, many workers reported losing access to bank loans and overdrafts, facing repossessions of homes and vehicles, and struggling with unpaid statutory deductions such as pension, medical aid, and insurance contributions.
NBC management has been accused of withholding third-party payments, leading to employees being blacklisted by financial institutions.
Further findings indicate that NBC did not comply with the Labour Act, which limits salary deductions to one-third of an employee’s net income.
“The NBC did not comply with Section 12 (2) of the Labour Act No. 1 of 2007, which states that any deduction on employees’ disposable or net income should not exceed 1/3 of an individual monthly salary,” read the report.
Additionally, NBC implemented a new pay structure, known as Total Cost to Company, after the strike, which the report claims disadvantages employees.
The parliamentary committee also found that NBC failed to honour an agreed 5.2% salary increase or a one-off payment promised to employees.
Moreover, workers reported experiencing psychological distress, including depression and substance abuse, due to financial instability resulting from the strike.
In light of these findings, the report recommends that NBC reinstate and reverse punitive policies introduced after the strike, reimburse affected employees, and reinstate a dismissed shop steward. It also calls for the development of a structured career development and promotion framework to ensure fair opportunities for employee growth and salary progression.
“NBC must reinstate and reverse all punitive policies it changed during or after the strike, as they were designed and intended to either punish or victimise employees who took part in the industrial action. NBC should immediately take all necessary corrective measures to reimburse all the employees who took part in the strike.NBC should reverse the implementation of the Total Cost to Company pay structure, which was implemented after the strike and stick to the Basic Plus pay structure, which is more beneficial to the workers,” read the report.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation has been urged to amend the Labour Act No. 11 of 2007 to provide equal protection for both employers and employees, particularly revisiting the “no work, no pay” rule.
The report also calls for the expansion of labour inspectorate services across Namibia to ensure timely resolution of industrial disputes.
By the time of publication, NBC spokesperson Beaulah Boois had not responded to questions about the report’s findings and recommendations.
