Construction work at the Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Center (KVTC) came to a standstill after workers of the Shanxi Construction and Investment Group downed tools.

The workers say they downed tools because the company's management allegedly ignores their grievances, which include outstanding payments and a lack of protective gear.

Denzel Stoffel is a shopsteward at the center. "The reason we downed tools is that these people are not taking our grievances seriously. First, they still have not paid us from last year, and we are complaining about our safety boots, and now they want to exchange us with the subcontracting companies."

The Secretary General of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers' Union, Justina Jonas, also joined the workers and vowed, the strike will continue until the workers' grievances are resolved.

"Whoever is in charge today must be ready to resolve this because there would be no work here. I am saying it, and I am saying it now: I will not leave this town until this mess is cleaned up because we have had enough."

Attempts to get comments from the company's management proved futile.