681 fishermen secure jobs

Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources spokesperson Uaripi Katjiukua has confirmed that 681 unemployed fishermen have secured full-time employment in the hake fisheries sector under the government’s redress programme.

Tunacor has employed 180 fishermen, while Seaworks Fish Processors has taken in 119 workers, Merlus 92 and Hangana Seafood 290.

Eight tonnes of hake will be allocated per fisherman, which will be caught by their respective companies.

Katjiukua yesterday confirmed that the government employment redress programme is for quotas against unemployment, and that a sufficient quota for both hake and horse mackerel has been set aside, which is a guarantee that the unemployed fishermen will be taken care of.

“The jobs are dependent on the quotas. That’s the agreement. The ministry will keep its end of the bargain,” she said.

Fisheries minister Derek Klazen says the ministry is in the process of signing agreements with fishing companies in the horse mackerel subsector at Walvis Bay, which would ensure that a total of 1 700 fishermen are eventually employed.

The agreements would ensure the continuous employment of the so-called Okapale fishermen under the government redress programme.

The fishermen covered in the agreements lost their jobs after an illegal industrial strike in 2015, and camped near Kuisebmond Stadium at Walvis Bay for about five years.

“It was a serious concern to the government. Some lost their lives and livelihoods, that is why the ministry has approached parliament to provide them relief.

“The Cabinet only has approved specific categories of some workers. An agreement was entered into by the ministries of fisheries and labour, with the companies.

“The agreement provides for the full-time and permanent employment of the fishermen against a fishing quota in the hake and horse mackerel fisheries, and it is renewable every year.

“In signing the agreement we would have commenced with the provision and assortment of approximately 1 700 fishermen jobs.

“This is only the first phase. Other jobs will be secured after the adjudication and Cabinet designation of additional companies who responded to our bids,” Klazen says.

Meanwhile, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Erongo regional chairperson Aloisius Kangulu has expressed concern over the possible retrenchment of 400 employees at Etosha Fishing, and has called on the fisheries ministry and the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation to intervene.

He urged the government to find a lasting solution to the plight of the Okapale fishermen.

“The IPC Erongo regional executive urges the line ministry to find a sustainable, lasting solution to address the plight of these fishermen without necessarily politicising their predicament,” he said.

Addressing a press conference at Walvis Bay last week, Kangulu also condemned landlessness and mineral resource exploitation, accusing Swapo of politicising national issues.

He said development efforts by IPC councillors are hindered.

“We also call upon the mining sector to add value, and to create quality and sustainable job security to ensure that mineral resources benefit all Namibians, in particular the youth,” he said.

He said the party was concerned about the job security threat to about 400 Rössing Uranium Mine employees under its new owners, China National Uranium Corporation Limited.

He called on the company’s management to respect Namibian law by avoiding the exploitation of Namibians.