Naute grape project workers on go-slow - by Catherine Sasman
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KEETMANSHOOP â€" Workers at the Namibia Development Corporation's Naute grape project are on 'go-slow', severely hampering the harvesting of grapes.
The workers, who went on strike last week, have returned to work with an anticipated visit from representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) within the next two weeks to consider the situation at the project close to the Naute Dam.
Workers have lodged 30 complaints that have been sent to the trade ministry and the union. The complaints are primarily over non-payment of sick leave in the absence of sick certificates, and demands to be paid overtime in advance.
A source told New Era that an employee, who was laid off, triggered the strike and subsequent go-slow.
Last year, the workers went on a strike after six of them were arrested for vandalising property, causing the company a loss of around N$300Â 000.
Project Manager, Mous Boshoff, said production has slowed down from 33 pallets (or 180 cartons of 4.5 kg each) to 13 pallets that are now being packed.
He was, however, hopeful that the project would harvest around 78Â 000 cartons this harvest season.
The project was started in 1999 and grows Flame Seedless, Sugraone, Victoria, and Thompson (or Sultana) in its grape section of 40 hectares of which 30 hectares are currently under irrigation.
New Vision Fruit in South Africa markets the table grapes to mostly the United Kingdom, while 'local grapes' â€" or grapes not standard size for the export market packed in 1.5 kg cartons are marketed in Namibia.
The NDC agricultural project also grows dates on 85 hectares and pomegranates on 10.5 hectares.
Boshoff said the project plans to expand its date production on 200 hectares with a Middle Eastern company, Al-Dahara.
Similarly, a study is planned to look at the feasibility of creating agricultural land on 5Â 000 hectares with the development of the Nekethal Dam.
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The workers, who went on strike last week, have returned to work with an anticipated visit from representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) within the next two weeks to consider the situation at the project close to the Naute Dam.
Workers have lodged 30 complaints that have been sent to the trade ministry and the union. The complaints are primarily over non-payment of sick leave in the absence of sick certificates, and demands to be paid overtime in advance.
A source told New Era that an employee, who was laid off, triggered the strike and subsequent go-slow.
Last year, the workers went on a strike after six of them were arrested for vandalising property, causing the company a loss of around N$300Â 000.
Project Manager, Mous Boshoff, said production has slowed down from 33 pallets (or 180 cartons of 4.5 kg each) to 13 pallets that are now being packed.
He was, however, hopeful that the project would harvest around 78Â 000 cartons this harvest season.
The project was started in 1999 and grows Flame Seedless, Sugraone, Victoria, and Thompson (or Sultana) in its grape section of 40 hectares of which 30 hectares are currently under irrigation.
New Vision Fruit in South Africa markets the table grapes to mostly the United Kingdom, while 'local grapes' â€" or grapes not standard size for the export market packed in 1.5 kg cartons are marketed in Namibia.
The NDC agricultural project also grows dates on 85 hectares and pomegranates on 10.5 hectares.
Boshoff said the project plans to expand its date production on 200 hectares with a Middle Eastern company, Al-Dahara.
Similarly, a study is planned to look at the feasibility of creating agricultural land on 5Â 000 hectares with the development of the Nekethal Dam.
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