Iyaloo Women's Investment Group is blaming the former striking fishermen for the company's reduced budget and cash flow.

About 200 former striking fishermen, known as Okapale fishermen, petitioned Iyaloo Women's Group in February, demanding jobs at sea and not in the factory.

The fishermen were absorbed by Iyaloo Women's Investment Group under the government's redress programme in September 2023.

According to the company director, employees signed an employment contract that allows them to work in land-based factories and on vessels, but they decided to stay away from work since their petition in February.

Annastacia Helao said the action is bad for business, and that is among the reasons why the company could not pay salaries in August 2024.

Helao further explained that a fallout with Iyaloo's business partner in a joint venture also contributed negatively to the company's budget. 

The director indicated that the Fisheries Minister was informed to assist the company with a bailout quota, which was awarded two weeks ago.

The quota, she said, will be landed once Iyaloo gets a new technical partner with a fishing vessel.

"The Okapale fishermen and management have signed an MoU that the remainder of the August salaries will be paid to them once the bailout quota is resolved; therefore, it was shocking to us to have seen the media release on the news without even any warning from the employees while they signed an MoU accepting that yes, we will receive $2,000 now and also a box of fish. We have agreed, and we will wait for the rest of the salaries." 

Helao maintained that the media statement was released to stain Iyaloo's name despite the company's effort to add value through land-based factories.

The director stressed that for Iyaloo to play its part in a male-dominated industry, the government needs to review the conditions of employment under the redress programme, especially when fishermen refuse to take up available opportunities on land.

"This action is unfair towards the Namibians who are aiming for jobs but cannot be employed under the employment redress programme. This brought about a sense of entitlement in the workforce, as we have been experiencing of late. Due to the situation, the employees report being under the influence of alcohol, they refuse to work in assigned positions; they leave the workplace without approved leave; and some blatantly refuse to board the fishing vessel because they claim they are hungry."

Helao noted that Iyaloo has engaged a new technical partner with a freezer vessel, as well as other right holders to form a joint venture.

The venture, she said, will then approach the government for at least 3,000 metric tonnes of hake to provide active jobs for fishermen at sea.