The Hartlief Group – a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group – and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) have signed a one (1) year substantive agreement, taking effect on 1 July 2022. The agreement sees the bargaining unit employees receiving a 7% increase on their basic salary, an adjusted transport allowance as well as a re-alignment of package benefits to eliminating discrepancies. The Hartlief Group comprise three (3) main operations that include the Hartlief Factory, Hartlief Shop & Bistro (S&B) and the Hartlief South Africa retail outlets and depot with an employee count of 423.
Gunther Ling, Managing Director of The Hartlief Group noted that the successful conclusion of the negotiation process was a highlight for the group considering the strained employee relations they had faced in the past. Ling further went on to praise the negotiations team of both Hartlief and the union for the open and honest discussions brought to the table that helped conclude the process. “With the unprecedented stress being placed on food producers and supply chains and bottlenecks observed in farm labour, processing, and logistics, as well as shifts in demand, the pandemic has directly and indirectly impacted overall meat and processed meat production. However, we remain focused on our Vision 2025 strategy and believe that by ensuring that our employees remain engaged and rooted in our culture and vision, we can achieve success together. The signing of this agreement is momentous for us because it marks a new era in our employee relations and the culture we want to drive of inclusivity, fairness and trust.”
Mr. Simon Muukapo, Regional Coordinator: Central for NAFAU expressed his gratitude towards Hartlief for how they handled the negotiations with transparency and understanding of the employees’ views. He further reiterated that for Namibia to rebuild its economy after the devastating impact of COVID-19, it would take companies such as O&L and Hartlief, organizations such as NAFAU and the entire workforce to work together. Said Muukapo: “We are the masters of our destiny. As employees, we need to do the right things right, not just for ourselves, but for the company as well. This is our future and the future of our children. As companies, we need to have an understanding of what our employees face in the aftermath of COVID. We are very grateful that we could sit around a table and discuss and conclude a fair agreement for both parties and we look forward to a year of success in business”.
