More than 270 employees at the Rundu Cash and Carry supermarket have been transferred to different locations, a move they deem as constructive dismissal by the employer.

The Rani Group of Companies and the labor-hire company, Employment Placement Services Namibia, informed the workers of their transfers on Monday.

The labor-hire company is owned by Tsumeb Constituency Councillor, Gottlieb Ndjendjela.

The workers say their transfers are in retaliation for their exposing labor malpractices and the selling of expired goods at the Cash and Carry supermarket.

A labor consultant who represents the workers, Linus Negumbo, says the company's actions violate the settlement agreement signed by the parties last month.

"No employee will comply. What we are going to do is sort it out at the Ministry of Labor. If there is no solution, we are going to bring an urgent interdict to stop this and then expose all the irregularities at the Rani Group. If they want peace, they must get rid of Mr. Ndjendjela and his company. He is causing more damage and labor unrest in this region." 

The workers were reinstated in their positions after they were suspended for allegedly engaging in an illegal strike in December last year.

The settlement agreement was mediated by Kavango East Governor Bonifatius Wakudumo and the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations' Acting Executive Director.

Workers say it was explained to them that the shop was overstaffed after relief workers who came on board while they were on strike were retained permanently.

"Where you are not told what the reason for the transfer is, do you agree? Can you appeal the transfer? And is there accommodation where you are going because they must provide that accommodation, and you are not going to pay for it out of your pocket? And then also, those things have not been sorted out today? These people must not enter the shop because they have been transferred. That's an unfair labor practice that's SWANILA, which we fought against," Ignatia Shikongo said.

Negumbo says the workers will fight the transfers if it means going to court.

He further called for a boycott of Cash and Carry stores in Rundu to force the company to comply with the country's labor laws and treat its workers with dignity.

"We are pleading with the broader public until further notice to stay away from this shop; don't support them because we have the buying power in our pockets so that we teach them a lesson and get them out."

The employees say they were not consulted on the terms of their transfers or on any potential benefits.

"As I speak, I am transferred to Swakopmund; how do I start to pay rent there? I was paid only N$725; what about food and transport? We have tried to call Swakop to find out if they know anything about our transfer; they do not know anything, and they say all positions are filled there also, so the overcrowding they are talking about here will happen there also."

Kleaphas Daniel, general manager at Ndjendjela's Employee Placement Services Namibia, promised to comment on the transfers once the situation normalizes.