Nantu faces deregistration threats
The Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) is facing threats of deregistration following repeated requests from the labour ministry for it to submit outstanding annual returns for scrutiny.
Namibian Sun understands that the union is making last ditch efforts to avoid deregistration amid a 23 February cut-off date. Union members are said to be in panic mode over concerns that the ministry will proceed with Nantu’s deregistration.
“Nantu was due to be deregistered [on 23 February] by the Office of the Labour Commissioner due to perpetual non-submission of annual returns as the law required. They were supposed to have been deregistered long ago, but asked for mercy and were then given until Friday,” an official said.
News to me
However, Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika said she knew nothing about the deregistration threats looming over the union.
“It’s news to me,” she said when contacted for comment.
In an email, the ministry confirmed it had requested financial statements from the union, but none were forthcoming as of yet.
“The Office of the Labour Commissioner did not deregister Nantu nor any trade union or employers' organisation. Of course, there has been a call from the commissioner to registered trade unions and employers' organisation to submit their annual returns. Failing to do so might lead to appropriate actions taken against defaulting entities - one such action is deregistration,” spokesperson Maria Hedimbi said.
According to her, the labour commissioner was also still analysing the submitted annual returns.
The union represents the bulk of teachers employed at government schools, estimated to total 30 995 in 2021.
Namibian Sun understands that the union is making last ditch efforts to avoid deregistration amid a 23 February cut-off date. Union members are said to be in panic mode over concerns that the ministry will proceed with Nantu’s deregistration.
“Nantu was due to be deregistered [on 23 February] by the Office of the Labour Commissioner due to perpetual non-submission of annual returns as the law required. They were supposed to have been deregistered long ago, but asked for mercy and were then given until Friday,” an official said.
News to me
However, Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika said she knew nothing about the deregistration threats looming over the union.
“It’s news to me,” she said when contacted for comment.
In an email, the ministry confirmed it had requested financial statements from the union, but none were forthcoming as of yet.
“The Office of the Labour Commissioner did not deregister Nantu nor any trade union or employers' organisation. Of course, there has been a call from the commissioner to registered trade unions and employers' organisation to submit their annual returns. Failing to do so might lead to appropriate actions taken against defaulting entities - one such action is deregistration,” spokesperson Maria Hedimbi said.
According to her, the labour commissioner was also still analysing the submitted annual returns.
The union represents the bulk of teachers employed at government schools, estimated to total 30 995 in 2021.
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