Fishermen demonstrate over ‘misunderstandings’
LEANDREA LOUW
Walvis Bay
[email protected]
Cavema Fishing refuted claims made against it as “misunderstandings” after almost 700 fishermen demonstrated and handed over a petition to the management of the company in Walvis Bay on Monday.
Under the auspices of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, the fishermen demanded answers to why they only received fixed-term contracts and a salary of N$3 970 with no benefits.
The AR leadership and Cavema management met on Tuesday to iron out these issues.
Cavema director Robert Shimooshili expressed disappointment in how AR handled the matter.
“They never extended an invitation to discuss it first. Cavema was one of the first ventures, if not the first one, to heed the call of government in securing employment for the affected workers of the 2015 strike. We have employed more than the allocated 645 employees and all of them have agreed and signed their employment contracts,” he said.
Quota allocation
Shimooshili said that a 5 600-metric tonne (MT) freezer horse mackerel quota was made to Camposatu Investments as recommended by Cavema, and 1 792 MT of freezer hake went to Rainbow Fishing Co. “However, Vernier Investments was allocated 6 330 MT of freezer horse mackerel – not hake. Additionally, Rainbow Fishing was allocated only 500 MT of wet hake, not freezer hake.”
He added that the employment of the 645 fishermen is explicitly connected and conditional to the allocation of quota.
“Such quota allocation is done on an annual basis for the duration of the season. The fixed-term contracts clearly state that employment is automatically extended for another year if the quota is allocated according to the designation agreement. “The contract and the pay slips clearly state that the employee receives a basic salary of N$3 300, a housing allowance N$500 and transport allowance N$200. The above conditions were confirmed in our correspondence with the various government institutions,” he said.
According to Shimooshili, an immediate meeting was set up in the spirit of cooperation.
“The [AR] statement is incorrect with regards to the workers’ remuneration as it includes various benefits. We do not prohibit anyone who wishes to go to sea or find alternative employment.”
He added that openings will be filled when available with skilled and trained workers. “We have assimilated a number of workers in such sea-going positions. We have also renewed the safety training certification of about 50% of the fishermen, with another 50% to follow such training as an ongoing initiative to make them ready for the related job.
‘Back to the drawing board’
Meanwhile, AR Walvis Bay spokesperson Knowledge Ipinge said their mandate is to fight for the fishermen to be permanently employed.
“The demonstration is just one pillar of action from the AR as mandated by the fishermen. We have established that the fixed-term contracts are only valid as per the quota allocation of 12 months. On that basis, we will seek justice and permanent employment for the affected. The committee will be going back to the drawing board and the masses on the ground, and then determine the way forward. We will consult with the company.”
Walvis Bay
[email protected]
Cavema Fishing refuted claims made against it as “misunderstandings” after almost 700 fishermen demonstrated and handed over a petition to the management of the company in Walvis Bay on Monday.
Under the auspices of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, the fishermen demanded answers to why they only received fixed-term contracts and a salary of N$3 970 with no benefits.
The AR leadership and Cavema management met on Tuesday to iron out these issues.
Cavema director Robert Shimooshili expressed disappointment in how AR handled the matter.
“They never extended an invitation to discuss it first. Cavema was one of the first ventures, if not the first one, to heed the call of government in securing employment for the affected workers of the 2015 strike. We have employed more than the allocated 645 employees and all of them have agreed and signed their employment contracts,” he said.
Quota allocation
Shimooshili said that a 5 600-metric tonne (MT) freezer horse mackerel quota was made to Camposatu Investments as recommended by Cavema, and 1 792 MT of freezer hake went to Rainbow Fishing Co. “However, Vernier Investments was allocated 6 330 MT of freezer horse mackerel – not hake. Additionally, Rainbow Fishing was allocated only 500 MT of wet hake, not freezer hake.”
He added that the employment of the 645 fishermen is explicitly connected and conditional to the allocation of quota.
“Such quota allocation is done on an annual basis for the duration of the season. The fixed-term contracts clearly state that employment is automatically extended for another year if the quota is allocated according to the designation agreement. “The contract and the pay slips clearly state that the employee receives a basic salary of N$3 300, a housing allowance N$500 and transport allowance N$200. The above conditions were confirmed in our correspondence with the various government institutions,” he said.
According to Shimooshili, an immediate meeting was set up in the spirit of cooperation.
“The [AR] statement is incorrect with regards to the workers’ remuneration as it includes various benefits. We do not prohibit anyone who wishes to go to sea or find alternative employment.”
He added that openings will be filled when available with skilled and trained workers. “We have assimilated a number of workers in such sea-going positions. We have also renewed the safety training certification of about 50% of the fishermen, with another 50% to follow such training as an ongoing initiative to make them ready for the related job.
‘Back to the drawing board’
Meanwhile, AR Walvis Bay spokesperson Knowledge Ipinge said their mandate is to fight for the fishermen to be permanently employed.
“The demonstration is just one pillar of action from the AR as mandated by the fishermen. We have established that the fixed-term contracts are only valid as per the quota allocation of 12 months. On that basis, we will seek justice and permanent employment for the affected. The committee will be going back to the drawing board and the masses on the ground, and then determine the way forward. We will consult with the company.”
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