Port casuals removed by police
Leandrea Louw
About 40 casual workers of the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) were removed by the police early Thursday morning, after camping illegally in front of the Namport offices in Walvis Bay.
More than 250 workers were informed last week that their services will no longer be required, following a manpower analysis done by the company that concluded the casual labour is an unnecessary expense.
A quarter of these workers resorted to squatting and camping illegally in front of the offices to demand reinstatement.
An eviction notice dated 11 February 2017 was handed to the workers demanding they leave the premises.
The notice stated: “The action of camping/squatting at Namport's premises is unlawful and illegal as you do not have valid reasons or a legal basis to enter the premises without Namport's consent.
“This action is interrupting the normal business operation of the port, and disrupts the employees of Namport to attend to their duties.”
Twelve of the casual labourers were taken to the Walvis Bay Police Station after they became aggressive towards the officers.
The regional commander of the Erongo Regional Police Force, Commissioner Andreas Nelumbu, said they warned the labourers and did not formally charge them.
“If they attempt to camp or squat in front of the Namport offices again, we will arrest and formally charge them,” he said.
As reported earlier by Otis Finck, Namport CEO Bisey Uirab explained that the casual workers never had formal employment contracts with Namport, but were used on an ad hoc basis, depending on fish volumes.
He said they haven't embarked on a retrenchment exercise, but simply ceased to render fish repacking services.
In addition, Namport has been undertaking various cost streamlining and efficiency enhancement initiatives.
The labourers have lodged a dispute at the Labour Commissioner's office.
About 40 casual workers of the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) were removed by the police early Thursday morning, after camping illegally in front of the Namport offices in Walvis Bay.
More than 250 workers were informed last week that their services will no longer be required, following a manpower analysis done by the company that concluded the casual labour is an unnecessary expense.
A quarter of these workers resorted to squatting and camping illegally in front of the offices to demand reinstatement.
An eviction notice dated 11 February 2017 was handed to the workers demanding they leave the premises.
The notice stated: “The action of camping/squatting at Namport's premises is unlawful and illegal as you do not have valid reasons or a legal basis to enter the premises without Namport's consent.
“This action is interrupting the normal business operation of the port, and disrupts the employees of Namport to attend to their duties.”
Twelve of the casual labourers were taken to the Walvis Bay Police Station after they became aggressive towards the officers.
The regional commander of the Erongo Regional Police Force, Commissioner Andreas Nelumbu, said they warned the labourers and did not formally charge them.
“If they attempt to camp or squat in front of the Namport offices again, we will arrest and formally charge them,” he said.
As reported earlier by Otis Finck, Namport CEO Bisey Uirab explained that the casual workers never had formal employment contracts with Namport, but were used on an ad hoc basis, depending on fish volumes.
He said they haven't embarked on a retrenchment exercise, but simply ceased to render fish repacking services.
In addition, Namport has been undertaking various cost streamlining and efficiency enhancement initiatives.
The labourers have lodged a dispute at the Labour Commissioner's office.
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