NBC workers say they can’t afford new rentals

THE Namibia Broadcasting Corporation staff say they cannot afford the new rentals for the renovated company flats in Pionierspark.

About 14 workers were asked to vacate the flats last year to allow for renovation which have just been completed. The company has asked those who can afford to pay anything between N$9 000 and N$9 500 to return.

Before the renovations, some of the flats cost N$1 800 per month to rent, while the staff were paid N$1 600 houisng allowance.

NBC’s chief human resources officer Vezenga Kauraisa last month said the first right of refusal will be offered to former tenants.

Kauraisa said those interested have until 5 August to decide, while the rest were given until Thursday.

Although NBC has offered a 10% rental discount, employees told the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) at a meeting last month that they want a N$4 500 price reduction.

One of the workers, who vacated the flats last year, said he cannot afford the new rent. He also said he had been living in a backyard flat with his family, paying N$5 000 a month.

“Some of us earn N$15 000 per month. I won’t be left with much if more than half of my salary goes into rent,” he said.

“Since NBC is aware of how much we earn, I thought they will rent out the flats at a price I can afford, but they are more worried about making money instead,” he lamented.

He added that the company did not care about their welfare as employees. “It is very discouraging, and an injustice to us as employees. We are told to work for the company whole-heartedly, but this is the way we are being treated,” he charged.He also said he asked to buy the flat, but was told they were not for sale.

“NBC is not a money-making entity, so since when are they in the business of renting?” he asked.

NBC’s union representative Samuel Kandjii said they met management and convinced the company to offer employees a 10% discount.

“The lowest rental price now is N$8 100. How can you say you want to rent a house in Pionierspark for N$4 000? That does not make sense,” he said. NBC’s acting chief commercial officer Umbi Karuaihe-Upi last week said the concerned staff were informed last year that market-related rentals will apply. She also said the N$1 600 rental allowance was not meant to cover the full rental, but assist to alleviate some financial pressure.

“The sum total of the above translates into rental amounts of N$6 500 and N$6 950 per month for an area such as Pionierspark,” she explained. “The NBC does have a generous housing scheme which staff can use to acquire property anywhere in Namibia.

The NBC will also soon engage in ways to introduce affordable housing for all staff in general.”