SUCCESS: Hartlief management and the Nafau employee representatives celebrate the successful conclusion of the wage negotiations. Photo: CONTRIBUTED
SUCCESS: Hartlief management and the Nafau employee representatives celebrate the successful conclusion of the wage negotiations. Photo: CONTRIBUTED

Hartlief and Nafau sign wage agreement

Ellanie Smit
The Hartlief Group, a subsidiary of the Olthaver & List (O&L) Group, and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau), have signed a one-year agreement paving the way for employees in the bargaining unit to receive a 7% increase on their basic salary.

The agreement, which is backdated to 1 July this year, also provides for an adjusted transport allowance as well as a realignment of package benefits to eliminate discrepancies.

Better

The Hartlief Group consists of three main operations: Hartlief Factory, Hartlief Shop and Bistro, and the Hartlief South Africa retail outlets and depot, with a total employee count of 423.

Hartlief Group managing director Gunter Ling said that the successful conclusion of the negotiation process was a highlight for the group, considering the strained employee relations they have faced in the past.

He praised the negotiation teams of both Hartlief and the union for the open and honest discussions that they brought to the table that helped to conclude the process.

"With the unprecedented stress being placed on food producers and supply chains and bottlenecks observed in farm labour, processing, and logistics, as well as shifts in demand, the pandemic has directly and indirectly impacted overall meat and processed meat production."

Together

He said the company remains focused on its Vision 2025 strategy and believes that by ensuring their employees remain engaged and rooted in their culture and vision, they can achieve success together.

"The signing of this agreement is momentous for us because it marks a new era in our employee relations and the culture we want to drive of inclusivity, fairness and trust," said Ling.

Simon Muukapo, Nafau central regional coordinator, said for Namibia to rebuild its economy after the devastating impact of Covid-19, it will take companies such as O&L and Hartlief, and organisations such as Nafau and the entire workforce to work together.

He also expressed his gratitude towards Hartlief for how they handled the negotiations with transparency and understanding of the employees’ views.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-19

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