Emotions high at NHE demo
The NHE workers also questioned why the 'non-performing' parastatal board was reappointed.
National Housing Enterprise (NHE) staff have taken their frustrations to the streets, with the hope of ending a three-year struggle for the implementation of a job grading system
They held a demonstration in front of the parastatal's head office in Eros last Thursday, with emotions running high.
The workers expressed their unhappiness and frustration with the current state of affairs at the parastatal and handed over a petition.
They are also angered by the withdrawal last year of monetary rewards as tokens of appreciation, with the company promising at the time it would implement performance bonuses, which they say was not honoured.
The employees feel left in the dark regarding a performance management system (PMS), which they allege the NHE failed to successfully execute.
They say a benefit was removed unilaterally. Additionally, a job grading exercise was commissioned three years ago because of an anomaly in the remuneration structure that was detected.
NHE CEO Gisbertus Mukulu, who accepted the petition, informed the employees that the job evaluation and grading exercise would be redone, saying the 2013 grading report was not fully addressed and is now outdated.
Many disgruntled employees expressed their confusion, asking why the report was not implemented, when the company paid substantially for this exercise.
They queried why the non-performing parastatal board was reappointed and why NHE thought things would be different this time around.
One worker, who preferred anonymity, said although they love the company they cannot turn a blind eye to the issues.
“Management, please hear our cry, we do not feel appreciated, but rather undermined,” she said.
The workers' petition, drawn up by the Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu), was directed to urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga, the NHE board and the CEO.
It was drafted by Asnath Zamuee, the union's general-secretary.
The employees undertook to demonstrate every second week, until their demands are met.
MICHELLINE NAWATISES
They held a demonstration in front of the parastatal's head office in Eros last Thursday, with emotions running high.
The workers expressed their unhappiness and frustration with the current state of affairs at the parastatal and handed over a petition.
They are also angered by the withdrawal last year of monetary rewards as tokens of appreciation, with the company promising at the time it would implement performance bonuses, which they say was not honoured.
The employees feel left in the dark regarding a performance management system (PMS), which they allege the NHE failed to successfully execute.
They say a benefit was removed unilaterally. Additionally, a job grading exercise was commissioned three years ago because of an anomaly in the remuneration structure that was detected.
NHE CEO Gisbertus Mukulu, who accepted the petition, informed the employees that the job evaluation and grading exercise would be redone, saying the 2013 grading report was not fully addressed and is now outdated.
Many disgruntled employees expressed their confusion, asking why the report was not implemented, when the company paid substantially for this exercise.
They queried why the non-performing parastatal board was reappointed and why NHE thought things would be different this time around.
One worker, who preferred anonymity, said although they love the company they cannot turn a blind eye to the issues.
“Management, please hear our cry, we do not feel appreciated, but rather undermined,” she said.
The workers' petition, drawn up by the Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu), was directed to urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga, the NHE board and the CEO.
It was drafted by Asnath Zamuee, the union's general-secretary.
The employees undertook to demonstrate every second week, until their demands are met.
MICHELLINE NAWATISES
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