[New Era] Walvis Bay -- Gendev Fishing Group workers are demanding for the removal of chairperson Paulina Haindongo and deputy Andreas Joseph following the company's failure to honour a wage agreement.

Employees of Gendev Fishing Group are calling for changes in the company’s leadership and management, citing concerns over working conditions, salary payments and the continued disruption of operations. They have submitted a petition calling for the removal of Chairperson Paulina Haindongo and Deputy Chairperson Andreas Joseph, as well as directors of the company. The workers also called for the removal of Finance Manager Ruby Rees and senior management official Jonas Lamek, raising concerns about management practices, disciplinary procedures and changes in responsibilities. A major concern raised in the petition is the alleged non-payment of salaries in line with collective wage agreements between Gendev and the union. Workers claim that the agreement provides for a basic salary of about N$6,002.10 from August 2026. They allege that, although an initial payslip reflected the agreed basic salary, subsequent payslips showed reduced payments based on hours worked. The employees are also calling for outstanding salary shortfalls to be paid and for authorities to ensure that fishing quotas allocated to Gendev support employment and protect workers’ livelihoods. The petition further raises concerns about employment security, saying employers have not returned to normal work following the conclusion of a strike. Workers are now appealing to Gendev shareholders, management and relevant authorities to intervene, restore production and provide clarity on the future of their employment.

GENDEV FISHING WORKERS CALL FOR MANAGEMENT CHANGES NBC Online Thu, 09/17/2026 - 14:40

More than 600 workers from Gendev Group Fishing have been camping outside the company's premises for approximately 20 days due to an unresolved wage dispute. The workers, represented by the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union (NASAWU) president Paulus Hango, say the dispute centres on workers' basic salaries and a proposal by the company to only pay 70% of the agreed salary when operations are reduced. Hango says that the parties had reached a preliminary agreement on a basic salary of approximately N$6,060 per month, calculated based on 195 working hours. However, the proposed reduction to 70% of this salary would lower the amount to around N$4,200. "Who determines whether the company is fully operational? How will workers' hours be calculated? How will the basic salary be calculated? How will annual leave, sick leave, maturity leave and other statutory entitlements be calculated? What will be the implications for Social Security claims and workers' compensation? How will pension fund contributions be calculated? How will lawful deductions from workers' remuneration be dealt with? What safeguards will prevent management from interpreting the arrangement differently at different times? How will the arrangement comply with the applicable provisions of the Labour Act 11 of 2007?" He is calling on Gendev Fishing to return to negotiations with a clear and legally compliant proposal. "We call upon Gendev Fishing Limited to return to the negotiating table with a clear, consistent and legally compliant proposal. We further call upon the relevant government authorities and other stakeholders to take note of the concerns raised by the workers and the union and to ensure that the dispute is understood from all sides."

GENDEV OPERATIONS HALTED AMID WAGE DISPUTE NBC Online Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:43

Operations at Gendev Fishing Group remain at a standstill after 600 workers downed tools last Thursday in an ongoing wage dispute. Negotiations between management and the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union, NASAWU, are continuing, but no agreement has yet been reached. The president of the union, Paulus Hango, says the strike is about security, fair wages and protections, and the integrity of collective bargaining. In a press statement Hango disputed the company's claims that workers' salaries had increased from N$2900.00 to N$6700.00. According to Hango, workers currently earn N$29.60 an hour, and the company's latest offer raises that rate by 40 cents to N$30 an hour. He says this translates to a basic monthly salary of about N$5850.00, arguing that the N$6700.00 figure includes existing housing and transportation allowances that have not been increased. Hango is demanding a basic monthly salary of N$6349.00, representing an 8% increase, saying the current offer does not reflect the rising cost of living or the contribution workers make to the fishing industry. "The figure of N$6700.00 is achieved only by including existing benefits such as the N$900.00 housing allowance and transport allowances. These are benefits that workers already receive and have not been increased. Packaging existing allowances as though they are part of a salary increase is misleading and does not improve workers' basic earnings. The reality is that the company has offered workers only a 40% hourly increase, while housing, transport, and other allowances remain unchanged." He called on Gendev Fishing Group to return to the negotiating table in good faith and urged the Ministry of Labour, Industry Relations and Employment Creation (MLIREC)to continue monitoring the dispute. Despite the ongoing strike, Hango has appealed to its members to remain peaceful and disciplined while negotiations continue.

UPDATE: The President of the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers’ Union (Nasawu), Paulus Hango, has said that around 600 workers employed by the Gendev Fishing Group remain on strike as negotiations are still under way regarding wage increments. Gendev, in an internal memo to employees on 22 July, made an offer to increase the guaranteed monthly salary from N$2 960 for 98 hours to N$6 700 for 195 hours, with a 24-hour deadline to accept the offer or remain on the current salaries. However, none of the workers have accepted the offer. Hango, however, said that the 120% increment offer does not reflect the facts, stating that the union had asked for an 8% increment in workers’ salaries, but that the company had only offered to increase salaries by 1%, promising a wage increment from N$29.60 cents to N$30.00 per hour. Hango said it is therefore incorrect to say that Gendev had offered a 120% increase, adding that this 120% increment includes workers’ housing and transport allowances and does not only include the basic salary, which the union is currently contesting. Efforts to get hold of representatives of Gendev Fishing at the time of publication were unsuccessful. Photos: Nasawu The post Gendev workers remain on strike appeared first on Informanté.

Staff Reporter CITIPRODUCE CC, a local company, has taken Gendev Fishing Group (Pty) Ltd to court over the non-delivery of fish worth N$3.1 million, which it alleges the company failed to deliver. The Gendev Fishing Group is also currently embroiled in a salary dispute with workers after it gave employees a 24-hour ultimatum until 23 July 2026 to accept a salary increment of N$6 700, up from N$2 960, representing a 120% increase. The company said the increase demonstrates its commitment to improving employee welfare and providing fair compensation. In May 2026, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah also ordered a forensic audit into the affairs of the 60%-SWAPO-owned Gendev Fishing Group after allegations surfaced of missing millions. In the CitiProduce matter, it is alleged that CitiProduce entered into an oral agreement with Gendev Fishing Group on 15 December 2025, in terms of which it would purchase horse mackerel from Gendev to the value of N$3,123,630.00. The lawyer representing CitiProduce in the matter, Petrus Strauss, said Gendev has, to date, failed and/or refused and/or neglected to deliver the fish to CitiProduce. “No response was forthcoming from the defendant. The plaintiff followed up on 30 April 2026, again with no response. In summary, it is evident that the plaintiff paid the defendant the full purchase price for goods which the defendant has never delivered, that the plaintiff’s demand for payment and the institution of action have gone unanswered, and that the defendant, having initially given notice of an intention to defend, has since disclosed no defence of any kind to the claim,” Strauss said. High Court Judge Shafimana Ueitele postponed CitiProduce’s application for summary judgment against Gendev to 30 July 2026 after Gendev filed an application for condonation for non-compliance with a court order issued on 21 April 2026. Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Gendev Fishing Group (Pty) Ltd The post Gendev Fishing taken to court over non-delivery of fish worth N$3.1 million appeared first on Informanté.

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union (NASAWU) has rejected Gendev Fishing Group’s latest salary offer, dismissing it as no genuine increment after the company issued a 24-hour ultimatum to workers to accept the proposal or forfeit it entirely. In an internal memorandum dated 22 July 2026 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, […]

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union (NASAWU) has rejected Gendev Fishing Group’s latest salary offer, dismissing it as no genuine increment after the company issued a 24-hour ultimatum to workers to accept the proposal or forfeit it entirely. In an internal memorandum dated 22 July 2026 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, the company announced a proposed increase to the basic guaranteed monthly salary, from N$3,850.95 to N$6 800 for 195 hours per month. While management has framed this as a 120% increase reflecting a commitment to employee welfare, NASAWU has rejected the proposal, arguing that it does not represent a genuine increment but rather the standard rate for standard working hours. The union’s position is that paying workers for the hours they actually work is not an increase, and they have refused to accept the company’s framing of the offer as a concession. A detailed breakdown of the union’s initial demands, as outlined in documents obtained by the Windhoek Observer, reveals that NASAWU proposed a basic salary calculated at N$7,212.62 per month. The union further demanded an additional N$200 once-off transport allowance in December, increasing it from N$950 to N$1 150. On the annual bonus, the union pushed for a full 100% of monthly salary for all employees, and requested that strapping and cold allowances be paid at the same rate. Additional demands included a N$5 per hour cleaning allowance, a cut-off card date change to the 15th of each month, transport provision for both day and night shifts, a N$1,000 long service award across the board, and the provision of personal protective equipment every January. The company’s counteroffer, detailed in a board resolution dated 22 July, presented a scaled-back package. On basic salary, Gendev offered N$30 per hour for 195 hours, which falls short of the union’s N$6,262.62 per month, which excludes N$950 for housing. A once-off annual transport allowance was offered at the current rate of N$950, despite the union demanding an N$200. Regarding the annual bonus, the board acknowledged the company’s financial constraints, stating: “The company is not fully in a financial position as it has credits that need to be settled for service providers; hence the company is not willing to offer a full 100% but is in position to offer a 50%.” On allowances, the company’s position was equally firm. The board resolution reads: “The Company has respectfully considered the Union’s demand in this matter; however, the company has been reviewing its current financial position and operational commitments for the past two years and months, of which it has not been in good books, hence the Company is unable to grant partial increase to these allowances.” Instead, the company proposed that cold allowance remain unchanged while strapping allowance increases to N$5 per hour for the duration of the new wage agreement. On the introduction of a cleaning allowance, Gendev was categorical, with the resolution stating: “The Company is unable to approve the introduction of a Cleaning Allowance, as cleaning duties form part of the normal responsibilities attached to certain positions and do not guarantee a separate allowance.” The company agreed to provide PPE but “not every January, only when the operations starts.” On transport, the board refused to reinstate day shift transport citing low utilisation and cost-ineffectiveness. “The Company will therefore continue providing transport for the night shift only, where there is a greater need and regular use of the service.” Regarding the long service award, the company offered only a 50% of N$1 000, thereby agreeing to pay N$500. The company’s board resolution had stated that the offer would only be available until 08:30 on Thursday, with no back pay applicable, meaning the effective date will be from the month of signing only. The gap, while seemingly narrow on the basic salary figure, reflected a broader breakdown in trust and a fundamental disagreement over what constitutes a fair wage increase, leaving workers caught between their union’s position and the company’s ultimatum. Gendev’s management kept the offer open directly to individual employees, urging them to accept the proposal by the deadline. The memorandum further warned that if the offer, that has since been rejected, was not accepted, it will be withdrawn, and employees will continue earning the current monthly salary of N$3,850.95. The Windhoek Observer understands the offer placed workers in a difficult position, forcing them to decide between accepting a pay structure tied to nearly double the monthly hours or remaining on their existing contracts while their union continues to oppose the terms. The company’s financial and operational difficulties, which have been the subject of public scrutiny and even a presidential directive for a forensic investigation, added another layer of complexity to the standoff. The Windhoek Observer could not obtain comment from NASAWU at the time of publication, as numerous calls to its president Paulus Hango went unanswered.

Renthia Kaimbi Gendev Fishing Group’s management has issued a high-stakes ultimatum to its entire workforce, giving employees less than 24 hours to accept a new salary structure or forfeit the offer entirely. In an internal memorandum dated 22 July 2026 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, the company announced a proposed increase to the basic […]

Renthia Kaimbi Gendev Fishing Group’s management has issued a high-stakes ultimatum to its entire workforce, giving employees less than 24 hours to accept a new salary structure or forfeit the offer entirely. In an internal memorandum dated 22 July 2026 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, the company announced a proposed increase to the basic guaranteed monthly salary of N$6,700 for 195 hours per month. The offer represents a nominal 120% rise in gross pay, but it also more than doubles the required monthly working hours. Management framed the proposal as a reflection of its commitment to employee welfare and fair compensation, yet it explicitly acknowledged that the trade union has chosen not to accept the offer. Despite that rejection, the company is keeping the proposal open directly to individual employees until 08:30 today (23 July 2026). After that deadline, the memorandum warns, the new salary will no longer be available, and all staff will continue earning the current N$2,960 monthly rate. The notice urges employees or their representatives to contact human resources or their supervisor urgently if they wish to accept the offer or seek further information. The move places workers in a position where they must decide swiftly whether to accept a significant pay hike tied to nearly double the monthly hours, or remain on the existing contract while their union opposes the terms. This is a developing story.

Forensic probe ordered into Swapo fishing company Gendev  The Namibian -

[Namibian] President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has ordered a forensic investigation into a Swapo fishing company, as a boardroom 'civil war' intensifies over allegations of missing millions and a lack of transparency.

[Namibian] The Namibian Seamen and Allied Workers' Union (NASAWU) has rejected Gendev Fishing's planned retrenchment of 489 employees, citing breaches of labour law and inadequate consultation.

Renthia Kaimbi Gendev Fishing Group board chairperson Paulina Haindongo has denied claims that the company is using its workers to pressure the government for a larger fishing quota. Her response comes as Gendev considers retrenching 489 employees, a move that could raise job losses in Namibia’s wetland pelagic sector to about 1 100 since December. Haindongo challenged critics to produce proof. “It is not true that the company is using employees to force the government to give the company more quotas. Kindly provide us with the evidence where the company instructed the employees to pressure the government on quotas,” she said. She also rejected claims that Gendev fishes in protected areas or records high juvenile catches, saying the company operates within sustainability rules. Haindongo told the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday that Gendev operates two of the four dedicated wet-fishing vessels in Namibia and runs a processing factory employing 651 permanent workers and about 100 contract workers.  She said the wetland sector supports about 80% of jobs in the horse mackerel industry. She said that between 2023 and 2025, the fisheries ministry granted wet-landed vessels an experimental licence to fish commercially in the 150 to 200-metre isobath, an area normally restricted for conservation.  The aim, she said, was to verify through scientific data that fishing in the zone would not result in high juvenile or bycatch levels. Under the licence conditions, a scientist and a government official were required to join each voyage to collect data. Haindongo said the official report from the three-year exercise has not yet been released. “Our team in the same vessels collected data which shows that our vessels caught less than 4% of juveniles over a period of three years and bycatches of less than 7%,” she said. Haindongo said the possible retrenchments are a last resort and are linked to what the company considers an unworkably low quota.  She said Gendev received a 3 351 metric tonnes of wet horse mackerel quota for 2026, while its vessels and factory have a combined annual capacity of about 45 000 metric tonnes. “It is therefore impossible to sustain employees, vessels and a factory of such magnitude with a 3 351 MT quota,” she said. The situation reflects wider pressure in the land-based fish processing industry. Wetlanded Small Pelagic Association chairperson Johny Johnson Doëseb described the planned retrenchments as a serious setback. He said the sector is struggling with limited access to raw materials and policy challenges, and that job losses deepen pressure on families and local economies at a time of high unemployment, especially among youth. Doëseb said the association is calling for the creation of a dedicated fishing zone for wet-landed, land-based processors to stabilise operations and protect jobs. “The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) system remains the most effective fisheries management tool, and when supported by strict regulatory measures and robust enforcement, it ensures that marine resources are harvested sustainably. This approach will safeguard the resource and unlock long-term socio-economic benefits through job creation, value addition, and inclusive industrial growth,” he said. Gendev has faced similar pressure before. In 2022, workers from Gendev and Princess Brand petitioned the government to allow fishing closer to the 200-metre restricted zone to protect about 1 300 jobs. In 2021, Gendev implemented a 30% salary cut affecting about 600 workers, after the company said it needed an annual quota of 35 000 metric tonnes to remain viable but received far less. On Tuesday, justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel asked the Gendev board to put the planned retrenchments on hold while consultations took place.  He stated that the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations prioritises worker protection through social dialogue and should only resort to retrenchment as a last option. “The ministry has started and continues to engage relevant stakeholders in search of a solution that would mitigate an adverse effect of the contemplated process, and if all is unyielding, to ensure full compliance with Sec 34 of the Labour Act,” Immanuel said.

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