Allexer Namundjembo
The acting deputy general secretary of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU), Lukas Matias, has confirmed that a planned strike by Furnmart employees will proceed across all branches nationwide, following a breakdown in negotiations over salary increases and the introduction of a housing allowance.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Thursday, Matias said the industrial action stems from long-standing unresolved demands despite continued engagement between the union and management since last year.
According to Matias, 467 employees voted in favour of the strike.
“The strike is about both the salary increase and the introduction of a housing allowance,” he said.
He added that the industrial action will not be limited to specific regions but will affect all Furnmart outlets across the country.
“The strike will take place at all Furnmart branches nationwide. We anticipate it will commence on Monday next week,” he confirmed.
According to the union, efforts to reach an agreement with management have been ongoing for several months without success.
The main point of contention remains Furnmart’s refusal to introduce a housing allowance for employees.
“The union has been engaging Furnmart management since last year. However, the parties could not reach an agreement, as management remained adamant that it cannot offer a housing allowance. They are only offering a 5% salary increase,” Matias said.
MANWU argues that the current offer fails to adequately address the rising cost of living faced by workers, particularly in urban areas where accommodation costs continue to increase.
The union says it remains open to further negotiations but insists that any settlement must include meaningful improvements to workers’ conditions.
Furnmart management had not responded to questions sent by the Windhoek Observer by the time of publication.
Echoes of the 2019 strike
This is not the first time Furnmart employees have taken industrial action over wages.
In 2019, employees of Furnmart and Home Corp embarked on a nationwide strike on 1 June following unsuccessful wage negotiations.
During a media briefing in Walvis Bay at the time, then-MANWU president Angula Angula said the strike followed a series of failed wage talks with management.
“Numerous attempts by the workers and the local management of Furnmart to amicably resolve the matter and agree to the 12% increment requested by employees proved futile,” Angula previously stated.
Instead, he noted, Furnmart/Home Corp offered a 6% salary increase to non-commission-based employees and no increase for commission-based staff.
“A deadlock was reached on 19 February 2019, and a certificate of unresolved dispute was subsequently issued to the parties,” Angula said.
MANWU expressed concern that many of the affected employees were among the lowest-paid workers in the retail sector and struggled to meet basic living expenses.
“These employees are expected to support their families and cover transport costs with very limited incomes. Some are not even able to afford to join the medical aid scheme provided by the company,” the union said at the time.
Kuisebmond branch salesperson Kaitjindi Kavetuna told the media during the 2019 dispute that workers were prepared to continue striking until they received a satisfactory response from management.
When contacted for comment at the time, the office of the Furnmart country manager acknowledged awareness of the strike but declined to comment further.
