A group of fishermen under the Government Employment Redress Programme in Walvis Bay say they have gone months without pay and are now calling for intervention.

The fishermen who undertook a crippling strike in 2015 at Walvis Bay have distanced themselves from the group of fishermen currently demonstrating in Windhoek.

The Chairperson of the Ex-Striking Okapare Fishermen, Godfried Kuhanga, made the clarification alongside other former striking fishermen.

A group of 300 fishermen from the Erongo Region travelled to seek answers to their petition from the Minister of Fisheries, Inge Zaamwani, but they refused to accept the response and instead demanded a roundtable audience.

About 200 workers of the Merlus Fishing Group of Companies allege an unfair salary gap between the company's original workforce and employees recently brought on under the government's Redress Programme to deal with past retrenchments and industrial disruptions.

Nearly 400 fishermen will benefit from a newly signed agreement between Blue Chromis Fishing (Pty) Ltd and the Mining, Metal, Maritime, and Construction Union (MMMC), which aims to improve working conditions and strengthen labor relations.

Former fishermen Daniel Nailonga and Johny Nefungo, retrenched due to the Fishrot corruption scandal, shared how this crisis has severely impacted their lives. 

They described feelings of division, poverty, loneliness, depression, homelessness, and high blood pressure. 

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.

Former fishermen of Arcticnam Fishing and NAMSOV, known as Group 73, held a peaceful demonstration this morning in Walvis Bay and submitted a petition to Alex Krov, Director of Shore Recruit, expressing their dissatisfaction with management’s treatment.

Fish stocks are declining, challenging the government's plan to employ former fishermen at sea.

Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Derek Klazen says the Government Employment Redress Programme will be renegotiated to find a solution for fishermen to do active work on vessels.