Andrew Kathindi
Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has rejected government’s dismissal of its call to have the 15 percent taxi fare hike made permanent.
Taxi fares were increased to the current N$14 from N$12 as part of government efforts to cushion the taxi sector during the state of emergency as they are no longer allowed to carry their full load.
In agreeing to the increase, Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, informed the NTTU that government was not going to indulge in discussions over the increment becoming permanent because the 15 percent increment had been approved as a temporary measure.
“Therefore, the increment is temporary and will cease at the end of the state of emergency or until full capacity loading is permitted. Hence the 15 percent increment cannot stand permanent as you proposed, due to the fact that the motivational factors surrounding the recent bus and taxi fare increase are provisional and temporary,” said Mutorwa.
NTTU President, Werner Januarie however argues that there are grounds for the hike to be made permanent as his union had already called for an increment in 2018, which he claims was ignored.
“We had requested a 10 percent increment in 2018 and the law suggests that once there is any fuel increment, a taxi association or trade union may request a taxi fare increment. As long as that is done within 10 days of the fuel increment, and the law suggests that it is automatic. It is only in the event that you are asking for a higher percentage than 10 percent that you need the board’s approval and the minister’s approval,” Januarie argued.
He said that if government will not accept the 15 percent increment, then it should accept their submission from two years ago for a 10 percent hike, which would put taxi fare at N$13.20.
He warned that if government does not agree to the taxi fare hike, the union will mobilize the entire transport industry, including truck drivers, whom he claimed were being made to work overtime without their consent.
“If the ministry continues with its malicious behavior towards NTTU, we are willing to assist truck drivers. You see, when you look at section 16 of the Labour Act, it quite clearly states that, if the employers want their employees to work excessive overtime hours, they need an application from the minister, and section 17 states that they need a certificate from the Executive Director of the ministry, but both sections stipulate that it must be done with the consent of the employees,” he said despite NNTU not being their union representative.
“Truck drivers are suffering without anyone knowing how to assist them, whereas I have the perfect solution for dealing with their issues. And since they’re not our members those willing to be assisted, should know upfront that such assistance comes at a cost to them.”
