Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah has urged NamPost, the new distributor of social grants, to consider absorbing employees affected by the termination of Epupa Investment Technology’s contract.

Responding to a question from Swanu MP Evilastus Kaaronda, Minister Shafudah acknowledged concerns over more than 100 Epupa employees who now face possible job losses. She stressed that, although the final hiring decision lies with NamPost, the government encourages all incoming service providers to give priority to workers from outgoing contractors.

“Ideally, what we encourage our service providers to do is to take care of the employees of the services they are taking over. These are people who have been working in this field for many years. They are Namibians, and they will be unemployed, so any service provider would be wise to capitalise on their experience and skills.”

The minister added that while the government cannot dictate employment decisions in private service contracts, it expects a level of continuity and consideration for experienced workers.

The shift in service providers follows the government’s decision to terminate Epupa’s contract as part of broader cost-cutting measures.