“As the Ministry responsible for extending the agreement to the entire industry, as well as for promotion of stable labour relations and the welfare of the nation’s workforce, we will not tolerate non-compliance with the agreement,” !Naruseb told the national congress of the Metal and Allied Workers Union held in Windhoek.
The construction industry has been growing steadily in recent years, in part because of the government policy aimed at giving opportunities to companies owned by black Namibians. This policy has attracted to the industry Namibian citizens who were previously excluded from State tenders and projects, the minister noted.
He said the ministry has received repeated reports that employees of small subcontractors are not always paid—either not paid on time or not paid at all—because the primary contractor has not paid the subcontractor.
“In other cases, the subcontractor has been paid, but simply disappears without paying the employees. Although the employees may have some legal remedies, as a practical matter, they do not usually have the option of going to court. I therefore recommend to MANWU that you explore effective remedies for this problem in your collective bargaining negotiations with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). You may wish to consider the negotiation of a provision whereby the primary contractor accepts liability for the payment of the subcontractor’s employees in the case of such a default,” said !Naruseb.