Ramatex closes units

GOVERNMENT has intervened to halt plans by Ramatex to move machinery and other equipment from its Windhoek factory, presumably to Cambodia.

It is not the first time that uncertainty has clouded the future of Ramatex’s operations in Namibia. Most recently, the issue was to the fore in May last year.This time, workers at the troubled Malaysian-owned company say they have been left in the dark on developments there this past month.They have found themselves being moved to different departments while factory floors were cleared of machinery.The company has apparently already closed its textiles, spinning and knitting departments, and most of its workers are now concentrated in the sewing department.Official information on what is happening at the factory is scant.Both the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ramatex management are pleading for patience before they inform the public on what exactly is brewing there.”There are quite a number of things happening there.But we’ve put a stop to any movement of machinery,” Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary Andrew Ndishishi told The Namibian yesterday.He said Government has been in discussion with the company for some time now, and that a meeting is scheduled between his Ministry and the Ramatex top structure in Malaysia next Thursday and Friday.”After that we might be able to give more information on the future of Ramatex.But Government is working on the issue in earnest,” was all Ndishishi was prepared to say.Likewise, Ramatex General Manager Boon Keong Ong, in a telephonic interview with The Namibian earlier this week, called on the media to remain patient.”Of course you want the right news, but there are some issues that we are discussing with Government that I think are not right to talk about yet,” Ong said.”At this time we are having a lot of discussions with Government and we’ll see how we sort it out.I’m sure at the end we will issue a press statement,” he said.The General Secretary of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau), Kiros Sackarias, said the union was aware of the fact that the company had plans to ship out some machinery out of the country, and that it was in the process of closing some departments.He was not in a position to say whether any jobs were likely to be affected, or whether long-brewing fears among workers that the company plans to shut down its operations in Namibia were becomiing a reality.A union source however confirmed that the company’s dyeing factory, spinning and knitting departments have been closed already.The company has not informed the unions of its reasons for the closures, he said.”There are various things being speculated, one being that the company has been losing money and is now trying to sell this machinery outside,” he said.”Another theory is that the City of Windhoek has called for the closure of the dyeing factory because of pollution,” the source said.Spokespersons for the City of Windhoek were unavailable for comment this week.Most recently, the issue was to the fore in May last year.This time, workers at the troubled Malaysian-owned company say they have been left in the dark on developments there this past month.They have found themselves being moved to different departments while factory floors were cleared of machinery.The company has apparently already closed its textiles, spinning and knitting departments, and most of its workers are now concentrated in the sewing department.Official information on what is happening at the factory is scant.Both the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ramatex management are pleading for patience before they inform the public on what exactly is brewing there.”There are quite a number of things happening there.But we’ve put a stop to any movement of machinery,” Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary Andrew Ndishishi told The Namibian yesterday.He said Government has been in discussion with the company for some time now, and that a meeting is scheduled between his Ministry and the Ramatex top structure in Malaysia next Thursday and Friday.”After that we might be able to give more information on the future of Ramatex.But Government is working on the issue in earnest,” was all Ndishishi was prepared to say. Likewise, Ramatex General Manager Boon Keong Ong, in a telephonic interview with The Namibian earlier this week, called on the media to remain patient.”Of course you want the right news, but there are some issues that we are discussing with Government that I think are not right to talk about yet,” Ong said.”At this time we are having a lot of discussions with Government and we’ll see how we sort it out.I’m sure at the end we will issue a press statement,” he said.The General Secretary of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau), Kiros Sackarias, said the union was aware of the fact that the company had plans to ship out some machinery out of the country, and that it was in the process of closing some departments.He was not in a position to say whether any jobs were likely to be affected, or whether long-brewing fears among workers that the company plans to shut down its operations in Namibia were becomiing a reality.A union source however confirmed that the company’s dyeing factory, spinning and knitting departments have been closed already.The company has not informed the unions of its reasons for the closures, he said.”There are various things being speculated, one being that the company has been losing money and is now trying to sell this machinery outside,” he said.”Another theory is that the City of Windhoek has called for the closure of the dyeing factory because of pollution,” the source said.Spokespersons for the City of Windhoek were unavailable for comment this week.