Ester MbatheraÂ
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has agreed to reallocate fishing quotas from Iyaloo Women Investment, Merlus Comerins, Hangana, and Novanam to Blue Chromis Fishing (Pty) Ltd following demands by a group of former Namsov and Icelandic subsidiary, Heinaste Fishing employees.
The fishermen, currently employed under the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP), petitioned Fisheries Minister Derek Klazen in Windhoek on Monday.
In the petition, they demand better salaries and improved working conditions.
The fishermen who petitioned the ministry through the Mining, Metal, Maritime, and Construction Union (MMMC), general secretary Joseph ||Garoëb proposed that the quota be allocated to Blue Chromis, which agreed to pay the fishermen a minimum of N$8 500, while the current companies pay workers N$4 500.
“Retract the quotas and give it to the company they want to go to. Because that is where they feel their employment conditions are much more favourable for them to get out of poverty,” he said.
After a lengthy meeting and threats to camp at the ministry if their demands are not met, Klazen granted the fishermen their wish late in the afternoon.
“With regard to your members’ request to be employed or moved to a preferred fishing company, the MFMR remains open to this idea of migrating these specific groups of former fishermen after consultation with Blue Chromis Fishing and other parties,” he said.
Klazen said the ministry remains sympathetic to the ordeal of the fishermen in general and remains committed to finding a speedy resolution to this.
He requested that the union grant the ministry time to complete the employee verification process.
Frikkie Roelofse of Blue Chromis Fishing (Pty) confirmed that the company is willing to take the fishermen in.
“We believe in the freedom of choice and strive to offer our employees relevant and equitable salary packages. The package we are willing to offer them is the same package we negotiated with our initially allocated fishermen,” he said.
Roelofse added that the company, which is fully owned by Namibians, believes in the upliftment of the people by offering them above-average salaries.
“Their monthly package will be N$8 610,” he said.
Meanwhile, Klazen also announced the ministry’s plan to do a verification audit of the GERP payroll.
He said the audit aims to confirm the legitimacy of listed employees and will be conducted internally by the ministry’s staff.
“The fishing companies told us that many of these people are currently on their payroll, but they’re not showing up for work. Some of them have shown up for work, but they are also on other payrolls,” said Klazen.
He noted that some employees identified under the programme were already employed elsewhere, making them ineligible for additional positions.
“This is what I want to discuss with the workers union and that we need to sort out,” he said.
Klazen said the audit will be done in collaboration with NAMRA and that if the need arises, the banks will be involved to cross-check employment and salary records.
He added that the findings will be presented to the incoming government to guide future decisions on the redress programme.
