Former Air Namibia workers fight for justice, unpaid severance

Former Air Namibia employees yesterday rallied for justice, demanding their full severance packages.

The group held a demonstration in Windhoek, nearly three years after the national airline’s liquidation in 2021, which left around 600 employees jobless and struggling in a tough economic climate.

The group’s spokesperson, Renier Bougard, highlighted their prolonged struggle.

Having been at the airline for 23 years, Bougard expressed frustration over the airline liquidators’ delays in fulfilling their commitments.

“We signed under oath for our severance packages, yet the liquidators continue to delay,” he said.

The workers said the impact has been severe, with many unable to secure new employment.

It is believed that approximately 10 former employees have died during this period, some by suicide.

The demonstrators demanded action from the liquidators and also called for government intervention.

“We want the liquidators to pay the rest of the money, or we want the government to step in,” Bougard said.

John Sakaria, another former employee with 23 years of service, echoed similar sentiments of disappointment.

“We want what we signed for. We don’t want more money, just what is rightfully ours,” Sakaria said.

Namibia Cabin Crew Union secretary general Willem Christiaans, a cabin controller for 18 years with Air Namibia, said the airline’s liquidators are denying the agreement between the two parties to compensate them according to the Labour Act.

He highlighted the government’s silence about what is happening.

“We had agreement in black and white to pay us one week remuneration for each completed period of 12 months uninterrupted service,” said Christiaans.