Napwu sounds alarm over Bipa staff complaints

The Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) is concerned about the strained working relationship between the Business Intellectual Property Agency (Bipa) and its staff, with the latter alleging that victimisation, acute staff shortages and poor communication are the order of the day.

Namibian Sun understands the union had to intervene to address the workers' concerns, who say they feel overworked and underpaid.

Extra work has allegedly been added to their job descriptions without prior consultation and no changes in their earnings. Those who speak up are allegedly subjected to victimisation and intimidation.

“It is alleged that for certain reasons only known by management, which our members do not appreciate, that [workers] are made to do work which is not part of their job description. Those that speak of any activity regarded as uncomfortable by management are perceived to be troublemakers,” Napwu’s general secretary Peter Nevonga wrote in a letter dated 22 July that was addressed to Bipa CEO Vivienne Katjiuongua.

Aggrieved members

According to Nevonga, workers have been left in the dark after “management unilaterally stopped having monthly meetings with employees where matters of administration and grievances were discussed.”

Nevonga added that “the performance bonus communication has stopped and this has aggrieved our members. The delay of overtime payment is not communicated and treated as insignificant by management."

Employees also claim that although business registrations have increased, the staff complement has remained the same despite their increased workload.

“It is our members’ concern that the current staff complement is too little to carry out the full mandate of Bipa without exploiting [current workers],” Nevonga said.

Employees have also accused Katjiuongua of deliberately delaying salary negotiation meetings.

"In September 2023, the bargaining unit requested salary increases, but the CEO postponed setting up a committee to oversee the process,” the workers said.

Ministers alerted

Bipa spokesperson Ockert Jansen said yesterday that Katjiuongua is not currently in the country and could not immediately attend to media queries but will respond soonest.

Despite addressing the issues during a joint consultative meeting in July, employees say little has changed, a situation that has prompted them to write to their line ministers – industrialisation and trade minister Lucia Iipumbu and finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi – in hopes of resolving the matter.

“There are always unjustifiable threats of punishment even where there is no misconduct," Bipa employees said in the letter, dated 30 August, that detailed their various grievances, including allegations of being overworked, undervalued and underpaid.

Allegations made

Addressing Bipa management at a consultative meeting a few weeks ago, Napwu said employees were also upset by alleged ongoing favouritism.

The employees claim that a waiver outreach programme, intended to ease the financial burden on businesses facing penalties for late or non-payment of annual duties, was reportedly used by managers to bypass qualified staff and instead assign their "favourites" to the task.

"The waiver outreach initiative has been ongoing since 2023, with its formal conclusion anticipated in March 2024. However, the programme remains active. Can the accounting officer provide a detailed cost analysis report that includes the revenue generated and the targets set for each region? We seek a clear comparison to assess whether the programme is yielding a profit," the employees said, with some claiming that they developed health conditions caused by their working environment.

Speaking to Namibian Sun earlier this week, trade minister Iipumbu said she has yet to consult with the parties involved in the matter before commenting on it.