Operations at Gendev Fishing Group remain at a standstill after 600 workers downed tools last Thursday in an ongoing wage dispute.

Negotiations between management and the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union, NASAWU, are continuing, but no agreement has yet been reached.

The president of the union, Paulus Hango, says the strike is about security, fair wages and protections, and the integrity of collective bargaining.

In a press statement Hango disputed the company's claims that workers' salaries had increased from N$2900.00 to N$6700.00.

According to Hango, workers currently earn N$29.60 an hour, and the company's latest offer raises that rate by 40 cents to N$30 an hour.

He says this translates to a basic monthly salary of about N$5850.00, arguing that the N$6700.00 figure includes existing housing and transportation allowances that have not been increased.

Hango is demanding a basic monthly salary of N$6349.00, representing an 8% increase, saying the current offer does not reflect the rising cost of living or the contribution workers make to the fishing industry.

"The figure of N$6700.00 is achieved only by including existing benefits such as the N$900.00 housing allowance and transport allowances. These are benefits that workers already receive and have not been increased. Packaging existing allowances as though they are part of a salary increase is misleading and does not improve workers' basic earnings. The reality is that the company has offered workers only a 40% hourly increase, while housing, transport, and other allowances remain unchanged."

He called on Gendev Fishing Group to return to the negotiating table in good faith and urged the Ministry of Labour, Industry Relations and Employment Creation (MLIREC)to continue monitoring the dispute.

Despite the ongoing strike, Hango has appealed to its members to remain peaceful and disciplined while negotiations continue.