The government has concluded fresh negotiations with fishing companies and employee representatives under the Employment Redress Programme, offering renewed hope for hundreds of jobless fishermen.
The tripartite agreement between the government, fishing firms, and unions comes after years of frustration and poor implementation of a programme meant to reintegrate fishermen who lost their jobs following the crippling 2015 strike, as well as former Namsov workers.
The Employment Redress Programme was introduced in 2020 to allocate fishing quotas to companies that agree to hire affected workers. But many fishermen say the initiative has failed to deliver, with some reporting exploitation and receiving allowances while staying at home instead of working on vessels. Others left companies in search of better opportunities.
Now, Ministers Inge Zaamwani (Agriculture) and Wise Immanuel (Justice and Labour Relations) say a breakthrough has been reached.
“All affected employees have been absorbed into the Employment Redress Programme through various designated entities,” said Immanuel. “Since the challenges commenced in 2015, to date, 2,414 individuals have been employed through this programme—1,770 in the hake subsector and 471 in the horse mackerel subsector. For this particular programme, 14,400 metric tonnes were allocated.”
Immanuel further confirmed that a group of around 280 fishermen who had been protesting since last year have agreed to return to work.
“We have met their potential employers, and we have communicated what the government's expectations are in terms of employment scope and conditions of service,” he said. “We are on terms.”
Employers and union leaders welcomed the new deal.
“We wholeheartedly appreciate the opportunity of this workshop,” said Anthony Wilson of Embwinda Fishing. “We have been reminded of our obligations, and we will definitely ensure that we abide and make the programme a success.”
Ruth Herunga from Blue Chromis Fishing added: “This has been long overdue. The affected workers have been unemployed and without bread on their tables for a very, very long time. We are happy this has come to an end, and we appreciate every effort.”
Joseph Garoeb, Secretary General of the Mining Metal Maritime & Construction Workers Union, urged everyone involved to stay committed.
“Every person who is part of this agreement should make sure it is adhered to,” he said. “We should work together. For the first time, we’ve run through the agreement, and we are happy that we could finally sign the contract we have formulated.”
The government hopes the renewed commitments will restore stability in the fishing industry and bring lasting relief to affected workers.