Walvis Bay – The Namibia
Seamen and Allied Workers Union (NASAWU) signed a Recognition and Procedural
Agreement with Etosha Fishing Corporation on Tuesday, which recognises it as
the exclusive bargaining agent on behalf of the employees.
“We have managed to negotiate terms
that will cement and support a mutually beneficial working relationship between
all concerned, benefiting both enterprise and the people who make our success
possible – our workers,” said Etosha Fishing MD Pieter Greeff at the signing
ceremony. He added that the company has taken further progressive steps by
including categories of previously excluded employment groups into the
bargaining unit, to create a truly sustainable workforce for the future.
In recent times
NASAWU secured majority representation of Etosha Fishing’s land-based employees.
Already being recognised as the exclusive bargaining agent for its seagoing
personnel, the signing of the Recognition
and Procedural Agreement, which lays down the basis of the relationship between
the parties, concludes negotiations in terms of the Labour Act (11 of 2007).
“It is a great accomplishment for the
company through this agreement with NASAWU to show our dedication to a cohesive
and sustainable working environment. It is necessary to forge and build strong
relationships to support our place within the fishing industry, and the immense
contribution it makes to the economy overall,” Greeff noted.
“We look forward to a strong and inclusive
relationship with the Union, and to honour the employees’ right to freedom of
association, but more so, to set a benchmark in the industry through our
commitment to sound labour relations,” he added.
The fishing industry currently
employs over ten thousand Namibians, most of whom are employed on a permanent
basis, whilst others are seasonal workers depending on species allocated to
each operating entity, as well as to some extent others who are employed on a
temporary basis.
Since its establishment, Etosha
Fishing Corporation has contributed immensely to the Namibian economy. The
company is a leading player in the Namibian fishing industry and considered to
be one of the foremost round can production facilities in the world. It is the
Namibian home of the iconic Lucky Star canned pilchard brand and also
spearheaded value addition to Namibia’s own horse mackerel through the
introduction of its very successful Efuta Maasbanker brand.
As an employer within the fishing
industry Etosha Fishing has various social responsibility programmes aimed at
promoting and uplifting underprivileged and disadvantaged communities in which
it operates. Apart from pro-actively seeking to positively manage its employee
relations, the company also aims to ensure a progressive and viable economy and
future in everything it does.
“The signing of the Recognition Agreement is of
great benefit to us; to honour the employees’ right to freedom of association
but more so, to have the input and assistance of an esteemed Union such as
NASAWU, to volunteer their experience and assisting both the workforce and
ourselves in building even closer bonds with our employees. We envisage a programme that would now also
directly benefit the employees, to build on our commitment to Namibians
benefiting from the natural resources of our beautiful country,” Greeff
concluded.
