The Luderitz-based Marco Fishing (Pty Ltd) is continuing to lock out about 300 workers, amid a wage dispute.                                                              

The company management initiated the lock-out on 24 July.

Both Marco Fishing and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers' Union (NAFAU) confirmed the lockout of the workers. 

The workers are demanding a 50% wage increase for sea-going personnel, whose current wage is N$4000, and a 21% increase for land-based workers. 

In addition, they want an increase in transport allowance, housing, cold work allowances, and annual bonuses as well as fish commission earnings for sea-going workers.  

The company initially offered a three-year agreement consisting of a 4.5% increase in the first year, 5% in the second year and 5% in the third year. 

It has since proposed a revised two-year agreement deal. 

Simeon Matheus is the ||Kharas Regional Coordinator for NAFAU. 

"The company put some percentages on the table, but there are conditions that there would be no back pay, which the employees are not in agreement with. In fact, what the employees are demanding, the company still did not offer, not even 70% of what the employees are demanding. In fact, the big issue that we are currently having is the issue of the company being willing to pay the back pay." 

The company management argued that the revised offer provides both the company and its employees greater flexibility to review conditions sooner in light of the challenging financial and operational environment.

Both the union and company management indicated they remain committed to negotiations in efforts to find an amicable resolve to the wage dispute.