Andrew Kathindi
The government has entered into a job for fishing quotas agreement with six companies on condition they absorb over 1,300 unemployed fishermen.
The unnamed companies are set to benefit from 19850 metric tons of horse mackerel and 5816 metric tons of hake broken into weight and freezer as part of the agreement struck.
Although additional details remain sketchy, the agreement is aimed at creating additional capacity for the six companies, allowing them to absorb employees who lost their jobs as a result of the Fishrot scandal.
“The 1,300 jobs are ready for absorption. This consists of six companies that offered the best terms. It will cost the government 19850 metric tons of horse mackerel and 5816 metric tons of hake broken into weight and freezer,” Fisheries Minister, Albert Kawana said.
The Fisheries Minister said the jobs are ready for absorption once the lockdown on Walvis Bay lapses.
“Unfortunately for Walvis Bay, the heartbeat of our industry is under lockdown now. Which means the process might be slowed. However before the end of June, all those workers that were affected will get their employment,” he said.
The development comes as Kawana, then as acting minister after the arrest of former Fisheries minister, Bernard Esau, promised to restore all workers who lost their jobs due to Namsov losing its fishing quotas.
“I must apologize as it took a bit of time. However this was because of extended consultations with all stakeholders, especially the industry. I have concluded and reported back to the president and cabinet. Due process is the reason it has taken nearly eight months to fulfill this promise,” he said.
He added that the responsibility of placing the workers will be done and coordinated by the Ministry of Labour in accordance with the labour law. Kawana stated that he will work with that ministry along with the unions and the industry to address this situation.
With regards to fishing rights allocations, he said of the 5,176 received applications in 2018, 185 where approved, including 104 new applications, while the remaining 84 were renewals of old licenses.
Among these are companies whose licenses lapsed in 2017 and subsequent years.
“As a result of Fishrot, government was faced with certain decisions. When I became Minister of Fisheries, I discovered some companies’ licenses had to operate for one reason: to maintain employment. Those affected are more than 7,000 workers. These companies had factories, vessels and employees. A decision had to be taken, otherwise, what happens to employees and their families. The industry employees more than 16,000 workers,” he said.
Kawana said he discovered a plethora of issues when he took his seat as minister. He is still sorting them out.
Among these outstanding concerns was the matter of a N$20 billion deal between the state-owned fishing company Fishcor and African Selection Fishing which resulted in the formation of an entity called Seaflower Pelagic Processing. This deal has since been cancelled by cabinet following recent reports of the partnership’s one-sidedness.
“Those parties will have to re-engage before we make a public statement. Those people will be engaged first and then, a decision will be communicated,” he said.
African Selection Fishing is said to have invested about N$370 million into this project while government paid about N$700 million but owned the minority share.
On Friday, Seaflower Pelagic Processing advertised 450 new jobs. On this Kawana said, “That one I have not seen, but at the same time, as politicians we are not here to destroy jobs, we are here to make sure the social and economic welfare of the nation is protected. I cannot destroy income.”
