Confidente workers get their pay

WORKERS at Confidente were paid their outstanding salaries on Friday, after going on strike earlier the same day.

The workers say they were not paid their December salaries, while others say their salaries were unfairly deducted.

Confidente’s owner Max Hamata, claimed the salary cuts were made after some employees went on unauthorised leave in December.

Hamata met with employees on Friday, after the police were called in to intervene.

He said there was work that needed to be done over the December holiday, but because some staff didn’t turn up for work, he was forced to hire temporary workers.

“Competitors will come take these jobs and we will be jobless. I refuse to give insufficient service to clients. If this place shuts down, we are jobless,” he said.

The casual workers claim they were told to go on holiday, while Confidente’s finance manager claims there was a miscalculation of the salaries, and the difference was paid on Friday while the employees waited at the office.

The police advised employees to join a labour union to assist in airing their grievances, or approach the Office of the Labour Commissioner.

Hamata also refuted claims that he was selling Confidente.

“Confidente is my baby,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Namibia Media Professionals Union commended the publication for settling workers’ outstanding salaries, after holding talks Hamata to discuss the workers’ ongoing concerns.

The union’s secretary general, Sakeus Iikela, said three workers were evicted from their homes as a result of the late salary payments. He urged Hamata to desist from threatening workers with dismissals, and find a lasting solution for the issue.