“This, however, is not sufficient to deal with the current crisis as some employers have
already started retrenching workers or sending them home on unpaid leave,” he said.
The ESJT called on government to pass additional regulations that explicitly prevent the
retrenchments of workers during the lock-down.
“Employers should be required to continue paying their staff and in cases where they are
financially unable to do so, they must provide proof to government as a precondition to
be assisted through tax exemptions etc. A particular focus will have to be on small and
medium-size enterprises who will face the greatest challenges in maintaining and paying
workers,” Jauch said.
Employers
The ESJT’s statement comes a day after the Namibian Employers’ Federation (NEF) issued
a statement, saying the “current situation is without precedent and that all Namibians
face similar problems, of sacrifices and compromises that will have to be made by all,
based on negotiation and creating understanding”.
“In order to keep businesses open and contribute optimally to Namibia's economy and
ensure Namibia’s economic survival, it is critical that an amicable solutions is found,
which might require a compromise from all sides,” said the secretary-general of the NEF,
Daan Strauss.
The NEF said Friday’s announcement by the executive director of the ministry of labour,
industrial relations and employment creation, Bro-Mathew Shinguadja, urging employers
across all sectors to fully pay employees in March and April was not in line with tripartite
meetings which took place last week.
He said the announcement resulted in “great confusion between employers and
employees” and said the NEF was “very disappointed that the announcement made by
the ministry of labour does not reflect a common position of the stakeholders present”.
Cash in households
The ESJT yesterday said only a minority of Namibians have permanent jobs with income
security and benefits.
“The majority are in insecure forms of employment, with low salaries often as low as N$1
500-N$2 500 per month. Many are in seasonal or contract employment or have no
sources of income at all, depending on relatives and friends for survival,” Jauch said.
“In a situation like this, government must immediately step in and the most effective way
are cash grants to households,” added.
Jauch said support for vulnerable households can be partly funded through the reserve
fund of the Social Security Commission, which must be directed accordingly.
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