N$1.2 million settlement for Hangana fishermen
LEANDREA LOUW - Hangana Seafood and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) signed a three-year wage agreement on Friday.
The agreement stems from a 2018 dispute about commissions and overtime rates.
The agreement states that the fishermen of Hangana will receive a settlement amount of N$1.2 million that will be paid out this month. The settlement is in respect of work done at sea between February 2017 and February 2019.
From this month, these employees will be paid a commission per tonne of fish landed, as well as overtime payment.
Hangana Seafood workers will receive an 8% salary increase backdated to 2017, plus a 15% housing allowance and a transport allowance.
A total of 263 employees, mostly from the night shift, were employed on a permanent basis.
According to Jacob Penda, the general secretary of Nafau, the agreement benefits both parties, as a happy workforce equals higher production.
“It is high time for the parties to reach an amicable solution. I urge employers to follow the example of Hangana management to resolve issues amicably to make sure their workers are compensated appropriately,” he said.
Herman Theron, managing director of Hangana Seafood, said the three-year agreement shows the company’s commitment towards its employees, especially in the current tough economic climate.
“We are very pleased to have signed this agreement. We were on our way to arbitration to settle this dispute and we decided arbitration was not the way to go, as only one party would benefit at the end of the day.”
Hangana currently employs 115 sea-going personnel and 1 436 employees in total.
The agreement stems from a 2018 dispute about commissions and overtime rates.
The agreement states that the fishermen of Hangana will receive a settlement amount of N$1.2 million that will be paid out this month. The settlement is in respect of work done at sea between February 2017 and February 2019.
From this month, these employees will be paid a commission per tonne of fish landed, as well as overtime payment.
Hangana Seafood workers will receive an 8% salary increase backdated to 2017, plus a 15% housing allowance and a transport allowance.
A total of 263 employees, mostly from the night shift, were employed on a permanent basis.
According to Jacob Penda, the general secretary of Nafau, the agreement benefits both parties, as a happy workforce equals higher production.
“It is high time for the parties to reach an amicable solution. I urge employers to follow the example of Hangana management to resolve issues amicably to make sure their workers are compensated appropriately,” he said.
Herman Theron, managing director of Hangana Seafood, said the three-year agreement shows the company’s commitment towards its employees, especially in the current tough economic climate.
“We are very pleased to have signed this agreement. We were on our way to arbitration to settle this dispute and we decided arbitration was not the way to go, as only one party would benefit at the end of the day.”
Hangana currently employs 115 sea-going personnel and 1 436 employees in total.
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