Former temporary workers of the Seaflower Whitefish Corporation at Luderitz have been camping at the company premises, protesting the non-renewal of the employment contracts. 

The workers have been camping and picketing at the company premises since the beginning of this month, following the expiry of their fixed-term employment contracts at the end of last month. 

The non-renewal of contracts affected 104 workers, who are now demanding reinstatement on a permanent basis. 

"We have written several petitions to the Ministry of Fisheries and to the government itself. We are here waiting for them to provide us with answers so that we can go back to work as permanent employees. We are not fighting for fixed-term contracts; we are fighting for permanent contracts, as we have been serving the company for seven years," said one former worker.

Another former worker, Cornelius Haindonga, added, "We were requesting the government to do two things. The first thing was to give enough quota to the company, and the second was the bailout.  Currently, we hear from the CEO that he got enough quota, even more than what he was requesting. But still he is standing on his position that he was only going to make 24 people permanent, and the rest, 80, he sent them to the streets."

The CEO of Seaflower Group of Companies, Alex !Gawanab, explained that the serious cash flow problems the company experienced resulted in the temporary workers' layoff. 

"We have not sent our vessels to Walvis Bay on time for this maintenance to be done; we are running late as we speak. And therefore, without vessels to land fish, the whole supply chain in the factory is affected. How do I employ people if that supply chain is not in place? That's why we cannot just sign contracts to employ people."

The CEO revealed the company has also committed to phasing out the contract worker system.

"We will start with 24 of the 104 people on a permanent basis. We will be left with 80 contract workers, and we will need to manage them over time. How we will select the 24 will be a tricky situation."

!Gawanab further demanded an unreserved apology over alleged unprovoked, disrespectful behaviour displayed by the former contract workers during engagements.