Employees of the Namibia Housing Enterprise (NHE) have voted in favour of engaging in industrial action.

Workers, represented by the Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) conducted a vote on whether or not to strike, with 90 percent of workers voting in favour.

The development follows the company's failure to satisfy the workers' demand for a once-off payment of N$15 000, instead of salary increments, which it has stated it cannot afford. 

At a press conference held on Thursday, the PSUN's SG Mathew Haakuria said the company was holding out on workers, based on claims that their 2021/2022 financial statements had not yet been audited.

NHE Acting Corporate Communication and Marketing Manager, Tuafi Shafombabi told NAMPA that a strike would do the workers more harm than good, as the company simply does not have the money to effect salary raises.

In response, the PSUN's Haakuria blasted the NHE's board for refusing to give management the mandate to engage with the union - noting that engagement is key and that the union is open to this, even prior to the strike's kick-off.