Media union struggles to get accreditation
Namibian journalists report myriad of abuses in workplace
Nampu has requested assistance from international organisations due to a multi-year wait in receiving accreditation.
A protracted struggle for the official registration of the Namibia Media Professionals Union (Nampu) continues with no end in sight.
The situation has reportedly cast a dark shadow over the lives of Namibian journalists, who report incidents of sexual harassment, intimidation and low wages.
In a statement issued by Nampu’s acting secretary general, Jemima Beukes, the yet-to-be-registered union has already submitted its application for registration to the Labour Commissioner’s office in 2020, however, the process has not been finalised.
Beukes said with the current status quo, the union has sought assistance from international bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.
Dire work circumstances
Beukes also noted that they have observed that media bosses enjoy the status quo and have reportedly even dared aggrieved media workers to report them to “your briefcase union".
Meanwhile, she pointed out that as Nampu works around the clock to be registered, journalists continue to suffer various abuses that have led to many being diagnosed with mental health issues as well as chronic conditions such as hypertension.
“We have taken note of unscrupulous characters trying to take advantage of the dire economic situation journalists find themselves in by trying to entice them into brown-envelope journalism. We urge our constituents to be vigilant and avoid these characters at all costs. Some journalists and media workers said they have been working without contracts for years now, and Nampu, without registration, is unable to effectively intervene except to write letters of demand as, legally, the union has no locus standi in law to take on these employers who appear untouchable.”
Growing abuses
She also said journalists, already grappling with low wages, have been subjected to increasing abuse, including foreign nationals who are often exploited as cheap labour. Some journalists have reported that they face threats from politicians and some supervisors who allegedly use their political connections to intimidate and hinder critical reporting.
“The absence of formal agreements hampers job security and employment rights. Then we have a mounting heap of sexual harassment in newsrooms, with interns and junior reporters exploited with the promise of permanent employment. As a union, we take the growing allegations of sexual abuse at leading media houses with the seriousness such claims warrant. Nampu will get to the bottom of this. Those found wanting will be exposed,” Beukes warned.
The situation has reportedly cast a dark shadow over the lives of Namibian journalists, who report incidents of sexual harassment, intimidation and low wages.
In a statement issued by Nampu’s acting secretary general, Jemima Beukes, the yet-to-be-registered union has already submitted its application for registration to the Labour Commissioner’s office in 2020, however, the process has not been finalised.
Beukes said with the current status quo, the union has sought assistance from international bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.
Dire work circumstances
Beukes also noted that they have observed that media bosses enjoy the status quo and have reportedly even dared aggrieved media workers to report them to “your briefcase union".
Meanwhile, she pointed out that as Nampu works around the clock to be registered, journalists continue to suffer various abuses that have led to many being diagnosed with mental health issues as well as chronic conditions such as hypertension.
“We have taken note of unscrupulous characters trying to take advantage of the dire economic situation journalists find themselves in by trying to entice them into brown-envelope journalism. We urge our constituents to be vigilant and avoid these characters at all costs. Some journalists and media workers said they have been working without contracts for years now, and Nampu, without registration, is unable to effectively intervene except to write letters of demand as, legally, the union has no locus standi in law to take on these employers who appear untouchable.”
Growing abuses
She also said journalists, already grappling with low wages, have been subjected to increasing abuse, including foreign nationals who are often exploited as cheap labour. Some journalists have reported that they face threats from politicians and some supervisors who allegedly use their political connections to intimidate and hinder critical reporting.
“The absence of formal agreements hampers job security and employment rights. Then we have a mounting heap of sexual harassment in newsrooms, with interns and junior reporters exploited with the promise of permanent employment. As a union, we take the growing allegations of sexual abuse at leading media houses with the seriousness such claims warrant. Nampu will get to the bottom of this. Those found wanting will be exposed,” Beukes warned.
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