More than 200 employees of Erongo Marine Enterprises (EME) and Commercial Cold Storage Namibia (CCS) have each received N$65,000 in dividends.
The Walvis Bay-based fishing company has paid out more than N$13 million to all permanent employees.
Erongo Marine Enterprises and Commercial Cold Storage Namibia are the first companies in the fishing sector to empower workers through profit sharing.
This is the sixth time dividends have been paid out, and it is the highest amount ever given to the workers.
In November 2017, the company launched the Erongo Marine Harambee Workers Trust so that permanent employees could directly benefit from fishing quotas.
The Harambee Workers Trust now owns 100% of the shares in Commercial Cold Storage Namibia after Oceano Group sold its 69% stake.
Moreover, the workers, through the trust, have a 15% shareholding in Arechanab Fishing, a quota-holding company in which Erongo Marine is a shareholder.
"Our crew is very close to my heart; they are the lifeblood of our business. Without their hard work under very difficult circumstances at sea, there would be no Erongo Marine Enterprises. In fact, there would be no fishing industry without fishermen. It is through their labour and their sacrifices that this very important economic sector has been built. Yet, often, very little recognition is given to the workforce. It is my solemn and humble appeal that entities in the fishing industry acknowledge this more and give our fishermen and factory workers the recognition and reward they deserve," said Dr Martha Umati, Managing Director of Erongo Marine Enterprise.
Employees were excited about the payout.
"I've been working for Erongo Marine Enterprises for almost 20 years now. We are happy with this empowerment; we are empowered, equipped, and transformed. I just want to encourage my colleague that we must use this money wisely. Let's make it happen in our homes for our families so that they will even see that "yes, we have got something."
"I'm very thankful because we have received Harambee dividends, which we always get every year, but this time it was beyond our expectations. I will use it to improve the household and pay the children's school fees. I will use it to fix whatever needs to be fixed."
Erongo Marine is one of the largest horse mackerel fishing companies, with shares in three quota-holding companies.