The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations is pursuing criminal charges against Tulinavo Investment Group for violating labour laws, including failing to remunerate employees as required.
Tulinavo Investment Group was awarded a tender to rehabilitate the Rundu Airport fence.
Some workers, during interviews, claimed they started working on-site from 17 November last year to date, yet they were only paid for the months of November and December.
The workers allege that they continued working from January until June this year without receiving payment.
One of the employees, Searchmore Takawira, told the NBC News team that "From our position right now, if we continue to work to complete this, these people might run away with our funds, and we don’t know where to look for them, since we don’t even know who exactly owns this so-called company, Tulinavo. When you ask the people in charge, they say they are just members. We don’t know who the true legitimate owner of the company is."
Another employee, Romanus Nyumba, added that, despite being a supervisor, he experienced the same challenges. "I am a supervisor. I came with this job here, but I am also suffering. I am suffering together with the workers. However, I want to emphasise that the company owners are taking advantage of us here in Namibia. We are suffering, working on empty stomachs, and we only get paid after striking. Why does it have to be that way?"
Ambrosius Sikuwa, also an employee there, expressed concern that they may never be paid once the project is complete. "I think by next week the project will be done, and we are afraid that these people will run off without paying us. What we are requesting from the company is just to pay us before Thursday or Friday, or we will down tools."
Some of the employees claim they were dismissed after enquiring about their pay.
Absai Shikalepo said he only wants what is rightfully owed to him. "We just want our back pay for these months, and we want them to tell us why they chased us away because we don’t know."
Gabriel Kulanda is another former employee who said he was unfairly let go. "We were dismissed because we were complaining about our salary, and now they replaced us. What I want now is our back pay, which we were supposed to get on the 15th. Up to now, they have not given us our back pay. I feel bad. I don’t feel well. At least if I could get my money, then I would go my way."
Labour inspector Santos Michael Kabwata confirmed to NBC News that the office is pursuing a criminal case against Tulinavo Investment Group for non-compliance with the Labour Act.
Investigators found that Tulinavo Investment Group was underpaying its employees and violating the national minimum wage.
A compliance order was issued against the company, requiring them to pay the workers back pay from January to June. However, the company missed two deadlines.
A further request for a two-week extension was denied, prompting the Ministry to proceed with criminal charges.
Efforts to get a response from Tulinavo were unsuccessful.