Contract workers of the main sub-contractor at Anglo Gold Ashanti’s Navachab Gold mine, nearby Karibib, Lewcor Plant Hire CC, have been on strike since last week Wednesday.
The workers refuse to go back to work until they receive their 13th cheque from the company.
The workers of Lewcor CC, who ceased working from Wednesday the 15th January 2013, say that they were supposed to receive their cheques in December 2013 already, except up to now nothing has happened.
This dispute has supposedly been going on for 2 years now, since Lewcor CC was established in 2008.
The workers allegedly negotiated with management last year, for increases on their salaries that were raised with N$ 2.60 per hour, housing allowance was raised to N$300.00 as the lowest housing allowance and N$650.00 as the highest housing allowance. The company also gave them medical aid and death benefits.
The contract employees feel the salary is not enough. “We are the main producers of this company, and feel it's not enough” said an unhappy contract worker. The workers say that although the 13th cheque is not mandatory, they feel they deserve the salary and started making provisions last year already to acquire the 13th cheque.
They had a meeting last year November to vote on a strike, the majority of them voted for a strike however only few of the workers showed at the strike. Their contracts end on 28 February this year, and many of them are uncertain they will be renewed.
Ismeal Kasuto the president of the Mine Workers Union (MUN) said this was a protective strike and although discussions were held, they haven't reached an agreement. He also said the strikers are fewer compared to the majority that voted for the strike and even though it's very bad, it will have to stay as is for now.
According to Pineas Pombili Hamunyela, the MUN Karibib Branch Chairman, a meeting was scheduled for last week Sunday afternoon, around 17:00 by the management of Lewcor CC with the contract workers.
The workers refuse to go back to work until they receive their 13th cheque from the company.
The workers of Lewcor CC, who ceased working from Wednesday the 15th January 2013, say that they were supposed to receive their cheques in December 2013 already, except up to now nothing has happened.
This dispute has supposedly been going on for 2 years now, since Lewcor CC was established in 2008.
The workers allegedly negotiated with management last year, for increases on their salaries that were raised with N$ 2.60 per hour, housing allowance was raised to N$300.00 as the lowest housing allowance and N$650.00 as the highest housing allowance. The company also gave them medical aid and death benefits.
The contract employees feel the salary is not enough. “We are the main producers of this company, and feel it's not enough” said an unhappy contract worker. The workers say that although the 13th cheque is not mandatory, they feel they deserve the salary and started making provisions last year already to acquire the 13th cheque.
They had a meeting last year November to vote on a strike, the majority of them voted for a strike however only few of the workers showed at the strike. Their contracts end on 28 February this year, and many of them are uncertain they will be renewed.
Ismeal Kasuto the president of the Mine Workers Union (MUN) said this was a protective strike and although discussions were held, they haven't reached an agreement. He also said the strikers are fewer compared to the majority that voted for the strike and even though it's very bad, it will have to stay as is for now.
According to Pineas Pombili Hamunyela, the MUN Karibib Branch Chairman, a meeting was scheduled for last week Sunday afternoon, around 17:00 by the management of Lewcor CC with the contract workers.
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