NEA defends Shoprite
The labour minister's comments about Shoprite/Checkers mean that the supermarket chain will never receive impartial treatment from the ministry, the Namibian Employers Association says.
The Namibian Employers Association (NEA) has described as “inappropriate” recent comments made by labour minister Erkki Nghimtina about South African-owned retail group Shoprite/Checkers.
According to NEA president Cor Beuke, Nghimtina's remarks were unfair, made out of context and likely to create further confusion in the continuing saga.
In a statement issued this week Beuke came out in support of Shoprite, which is a NEA member.
“The latest comments by the minister of labour on 20 July necessitate that we break our silence in defence of our member… It must be said that the minister and his officials made these remarks without verifying the facts provided to him,” Beuke said.
“We believe several matters were taken out of context which created further confusion. The result of this is that Shoprite is of the opinion that they will never receive an impartial judgement from the ministry, which is essential in order to promote harmonious labour relations within its operations.”
At a press briefing in Windhoek last week, Nghimtina joined the chorus of those calling on Shoprite to respect local labour laws. The retailer had been accused of flouting labour laws and exploiting its workers, who are said to be earning low wages with no fringe benefits.
“It is my great concern that as of today, the unhappy state of labour relations and instability continues at Shoprite … the low wages and poor conditions of employment persist, including the permanent part-time employment without guaranteed hours of work,” the minister said.
Nghimtina said Shoprite was an “anti-union” organisation whose workers were not represented by a union.
He said efforts made by his ministry to address the issue with the Shoprite management had yielded nothing.
In 2015, Shoprite workers were charged with violating several company regulations, including participating in an illegal strike and gross insubordination.
They were also charged with destruction of private property and interfering with a company investigation.
More than 100 workers at Shoprite in Windhoek were charged for taking part in the 2015 strike.
The disciplinary hearings are still continuing amid calls for the charges to be dropped.
The Economic and Social Justice Trust (ESJT) and trade unions such as Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau), Namibia Wholesale and Retail Workers Union (NWRWU) and Namibia Commercial, Catering, Food and Allied Workers Union (NACCAFWU) have all rallied behind the call to drop the charges.
To date, Shoprite has dismissed 176 workers at Rundu and Gobabis.
According to the labour ministry, Shoprite/Checkers employs more than 4 300 people in Namibia.
According to NEA president Cor Beuke, Nghimtina's remarks were unfair, made out of context and likely to create further confusion in the continuing saga.
In a statement issued this week Beuke came out in support of Shoprite, which is a NEA member.
“The latest comments by the minister of labour on 20 July necessitate that we break our silence in defence of our member… It must be said that the minister and his officials made these remarks without verifying the facts provided to him,” Beuke said.
“We believe several matters were taken out of context which created further confusion. The result of this is that Shoprite is of the opinion that they will never receive an impartial judgement from the ministry, which is essential in order to promote harmonious labour relations within its operations.”
At a press briefing in Windhoek last week, Nghimtina joined the chorus of those calling on Shoprite to respect local labour laws. The retailer had been accused of flouting labour laws and exploiting its workers, who are said to be earning low wages with no fringe benefits.
“It is my great concern that as of today, the unhappy state of labour relations and instability continues at Shoprite … the low wages and poor conditions of employment persist, including the permanent part-time employment without guaranteed hours of work,” the minister said.
Nghimtina said Shoprite was an “anti-union” organisation whose workers were not represented by a union.
He said efforts made by his ministry to address the issue with the Shoprite management had yielded nothing.
In 2015, Shoprite workers were charged with violating several company regulations, including participating in an illegal strike and gross insubordination.
They were also charged with destruction of private property and interfering with a company investigation.
More than 100 workers at Shoprite in Windhoek were charged for taking part in the 2015 strike.
The disciplinary hearings are still continuing amid calls for the charges to be dropped.
The Economic and Social Justice Trust (ESJT) and trade unions such as Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau), Namibia Wholesale and Retail Workers Union (NWRWU) and Namibia Commercial, Catering, Food and Allied Workers Union (NACCAFWU) have all rallied behind the call to drop the charges.
To date, Shoprite has dismissed 176 workers at Rundu and Gobabis.
According to the labour ministry, Shoprite/Checkers employs more than 4 300 people in Namibia.
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