Martin Endjala
The life of mines in Namibia is a very concerning issue for labour unions because of continuous retrenchments.
The Mining Workers Union’s Assistant Secretary General, Paul Situmba said that it is beyond their control, given the fact that the industry deals with resources that are not forever and depletes over a period of time
In this regard, Situmba called for better severance packages to be offered to workers that will eventually be retrenched.
He was responding to the rising number of retrenchments observed in the mining sector recently.
He said it is worrisome that a number of mines are changing their mining models due to depleted resources and the lifespan of mines.
Situmba said that the union has been hard at work to represent workers, for the improvement of working conditions and for them to get better severance packages when this mine’s lifespan reaches its end.
“We as a union are therefore here to fight for better living standards, the mining sector continues paying starvation salaries to workers and this is uncalled for. Life of mine will end, but they need to improve people’s lives,” he said.
He argued that employees are paid a poverty salary and after five years, these companies have nothing to show for the improvement of the workers’ lives, who work around the clock to ensure that these mines are profitable.
Situmba expressed his discontent with companies that do not invest in the workers while they know the mine will not last forever.
He is of the opinion that companies need to start sharing these resources with the workers and change the way they do things.
“It’s high time that these mining companies start investing in their workers so that after the life span of the mine is over, they can look back and say we have improved our workers’ lives,” he said.
Situmba said that going forward, he also wants workers to benefit from the mines, arguing that many who used to work in mines and were relieved of their duties are not given enough severance packages to sustain their lives, while also pointing out that retrenchment is very detrimental to these workers.
He told this publication that in the severance packages provided, which are currently being paid out, the minimum is one week and one month for each year worked.
The unionists emphasized that this package must be reviewed so that they can be reasonable by applying humanity’s sense, in the sense that since the mine is closing down, it also affords workers to go home with a smile.
“There is no way one will survive with the current model of the severance package, this is why there is a need to come up with an exclusive package and we will continue fighting for better packages for our members,” he said.
Situmba said that companies have trust accounts outside where they have been saving up in preparations for themselves once the life span of the mine ends, adding that this is at the expense of the workers
“Instead of investing in the employees they are investing in themselves for a better future,” he said.
Meanwhile, a source in one of the mines currently undergoing retrenchment and who wishes to stay anonymous believes that this is just a way of getting rid of employees so that those in management positions can accumulate larger packages.
