Lylie Happiness
Oshakati, Aug. 3 — THE Namibia Local Business Association (NALOBA) has appealed to the government to do all it can to avert a national strike by civil servants.
This call was made at a press briefing at Ongwediva on Monday by NALOBA vice-president Peter Amadhila during a press briefing.
His appeal comes in the aftermath of a two-day voting process in which 42 216 civil servants voted in favour of going on strike last week, while 1 232 voted against the industrial action.
This however represents less than 50% of the total civil servants who number more than 100 000 workers.
Civil servants have been demanding a 12% salary increment since 2016 but this has not been given by the employer, resulting in a deadlock in this year’s negotiations.
Amadhila said the proposed strike by civil servants at a time the economy has been hardest hit will have devastating consequences which will take the country a very long time from which to recover.
“Schools, hospitals and many government institutions will be greatly affected. Government revenues and business will be severely affected,” he said.
Amadhila emphasised that the government should avert the proposed strike, as the consequences are too ghastly to contemplate.
He advised the government to give 10% of the tax threshold or potion to every civil servant resulting in an increase in salaries on an interim basis until the economy has stabilised.
He also urged civil servants to remain calm and not go on strike while they submit grievances to the Office of the President.
