Labour law violations plague Zambezi retail and wholesale sector
By Ludorf Iyambo
A Labour and Industrial Relations Parliamentary Standing Committee has uncovered widespread violations of labour laws in the retail and wholesale sector in the Zambezi Region, with many workers earning below the national minimum wage of N$18.
The committee also found that some employees were working in unsafe conditions and were not receiving basic employment benefits.
The committee chairperson Justina Jonas said inspections revealed that workers are afraid to challenge unlawful labour practices for fear of losing their jobs.
Jonas added that some employers were not complying with the Labour Act and basic conditions of employment, including provisions relating to sick leave, compassionate leave and maternity leave.
“In some scenarios we are informed that when an employee goes to the hospital and comes with a sick certificate, it’s either your sick certificate is torn apart and at the end of the month you are not paid. In some scenarios we are informed that if you go on leave, maybe you have a death in the family, when you come back you are either dismissed or you are not paid for that specific day,” said Jonas.
Zambezi Region’s only labour inspector, Richard Mushaukwa, echoed the committee’s concerns, saying that around 80% of employers inspected were not complying with the minimum wage regulations.
“And the other one is that employers are not paying overtime for work performed after normal working hours, Sunday and public holidays. And some of the companies are not paying the correct rates for overtime. You will find that workers are working on Sunday but they are paid on the rate of 1.5.,” said Mushaukwa.
Committee member Eneas Emvula said the oversight mission found that many workers in the retail sector remain trapped in poverty because they are being paid below the legally prescribed minimum wage.
“Their wages are not on par with the minimum wage set by the law. The working conditions are terrible. There is also a deprivation of basic human rights, especially at the workplace. The safety is not taken care of by some of these employers that we visited, particularly the Chinese retail outlets,” said Emvula.
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