Canadian-owned Northern Graphite Mine has retrenched 32 employees by giving them a verbal notice followed by a written notice of retrenchment from Country Director, Sam Januarie.

Their notices were issued today, and their last working day is July 31, 2023.

The employees who received the notices visited Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua and Chairperson of the Regional Council Marlayn Mbakera, who invited Januarie and Labour Commissioner Kleofas Gaingob.

Gaingob advised the workers not to have one-on-one meetings with Januarie but rather engage him as a collective.

Januarie explained that the reason for retrenchment is the relocation of the mine from Okorusu to Okanjande, a few kilometres south of Otjiwarongo.

Four representatives of the employees and those from the Ministry of Labour, together with the Governor and Chairperson, are having a closed-door meeting to discuss the way forward.