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By: Hertha Ekandjo Despite the explicit protection provided to contract workers under Section 128 of the Labour Amendment Act of 2012, which ensures equality in pay and working conditions with...

More than 110 workers who were employed by the Namibia College of Open Learning (Namcol) across the country have been let go following the end of their contracts this month. The affected individuals were employed on a fixed-term basis across various departments, including the warehouse, information technology, finance, administration, learner support, media and student services. The Namibian understands that the decision was taken by management on 5 May, following the end of the institution’s recess. Some of the affected employees have reportedly had their contracts renewed repeatedly for over 20 years. Some workers allege they were only informed of their dismissal via Whats­App messages, while others received phone calls – even after having worked at the institution for up to 25 years. “There was no communication on the renewal. Now permanent workers are less than contract workers. How are they going to manage? We were always the ones doing everything and always on the ground,” the group says, adding that they have engaged the board on the matter. A source from the group says, “The work has now been given to permanent workers who are being paid overtime, while we are in the streets now suffering with no jobs.” However, Namcol executive officer Ngepathimo Kadhila says the employees were not fired, but that their contracts had simply ended. He says the board is trying to rectify a past administrative error that allowed contract workers to remain employed for periods exceeding 24 months. “I am not aware that people were fired, but contracts came to an end and were not renewed because there are processes that need to be followed which were not followed.” Kadhila also says no positions have been filled yet and those whose contracts ended are welcome to reapply, provided they meet the requirements. “We want to follow the correct process of putting out an advertisement for people to apply, including those with contracts that ended.” Kadhila says those who were let go were contacted via email and not WhatsApp. “Someone leaked a message that I had sent to management that they should inform the people about the non-renewal of the contracts.” Namcol currently employs 115 full-time and 1 500 part-time staff members. The post Namcol lets go of over 100 contract workers appeared first on The Namibian.