Covid-19 stigma rides truckers
Responsible for ferrying essential goods from outside the country, Namibian truck drivers have bemoaned their poor working conditions and low wages.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
A group of cross-border truckers have threatened to go on strike if President Hage Geingob fails to intervene and address their working conditions.
The truckers also want to be paid risk allowances amidst the coronavirus outbreak. According group spokesperson Richardt Ortner, who drives between Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a trucker takes home an average salary of N$7 000, often without any fringe benefits.
“Government must talk to our employers and agree to gazette a risk allowance because we are travelling to Covid-19 high risk countries such as South Africa to bring essential goods to our people, but we are paid peanuts. There are those who are paid per kilometre, some are paid a salary, but in general, a driver can take home about N$7 000,” he said.
Severely stigmatised
Ortner also said truckers are severely stigmatised as coronavirus carriers and at the same time live in constant fear of contracting the virus while in a foreign country.
“What if I go to DRC and I am tested positive? What will happen to my body, because people who die because of coronavirus are cremated and will not be repatriated to your home country. “What about my family? Who will support them when we do not receive any fringe benefits?” he asked.
Ortner also lamented the manner in which drivers are tested for the coronavirus, saying they often leave border posts with bleeding noses and headaches.
“That thing they push up our noses is done every week when you go to South Africa. The drivers between Namibia and South Africa are more at risk because they go there four times a week. And they are tested every time they enter a country,” he said.
Salary cuts
Stephan Terblanche, the CEO of FP du Toit, one of the biggest trucking companies in the country, said this week that the Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated the conditions truck drivers work under.
According to him, at least 5% of their drivers had their salaries cut.
“A truck driver can earn anything between N$7 500 and perhaps N$35 000 per month,” he said.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
A group of cross-border truckers have threatened to go on strike if President Hage Geingob fails to intervene and address their working conditions.
The truckers also want to be paid risk allowances amidst the coronavirus outbreak. According group spokesperson Richardt Ortner, who drives between Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a trucker takes home an average salary of N$7 000, often without any fringe benefits.
“Government must talk to our employers and agree to gazette a risk allowance because we are travelling to Covid-19 high risk countries such as South Africa to bring essential goods to our people, but we are paid peanuts. There are those who are paid per kilometre, some are paid a salary, but in general, a driver can take home about N$7 000,” he said.
Severely stigmatised
Ortner also said truckers are severely stigmatised as coronavirus carriers and at the same time live in constant fear of contracting the virus while in a foreign country.
“What if I go to DRC and I am tested positive? What will happen to my body, because people who die because of coronavirus are cremated and will not be repatriated to your home country. “What about my family? Who will support them when we do not receive any fringe benefits?” he asked.
Ortner also lamented the manner in which drivers are tested for the coronavirus, saying they often leave border posts with bleeding noses and headaches.
“That thing they push up our noses is done every week when you go to South Africa. The drivers between Namibia and South Africa are more at risk because they go there four times a week. And they are tested every time they enter a country,” he said.
Salary cuts
Stephan Terblanche, the CEO of FP du Toit, one of the biggest trucking companies in the country, said this week that the Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated the conditions truck drivers work under.
According to him, at least 5% of their drivers had their salaries cut.
“A truck driver can earn anything between N$7 500 and perhaps N$35 000 per month,” he said.
[email protected]
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