
Displaying items by tag: Namibia
Namibia: The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has imposed a US$269m fine on two companies for completing a merger without prior approval. The acquisition of Hong Xiang Holdings’ shares by Wang Zhongke from Fan Qingmei led to the companies being fined after an investigation found that the merger would create a monopoly in the cement market. NaCC spokesperson Dina Gowases stated that the merger failed to meet the notification requirements under the Competition Act, aimed at safeguarding competitive markets crucial for the construction industry and the national economy. The settlement also requires the companies to implement a competition law compliance programme in Namibia.
Cheetah Cement and union reach wage agreement
09 November 2022Namibia: The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) and Cheetah Cement yesterday reached a wage agreement to end a strike that has crippled the company’s Otjiwarongo plant for the past three months. A total of 80 Cheetah Cement’s employees, which is the trading name of the Chinese-owned company Whale Rock Cement (WRC), had been striking after the company and the MUN failed to reach an agreement in negotiations about wage increases and improved conditions of service.
The agreement will see all workers receive a 5% increase in salary, as well as a 5% increase in housing allowances. “We would like to place on record that the company's generous offer is not based on an admission of affordability but rather a commitment to bring an end to the prolonged wage dispute,” said WRC’s general manager Kevin Lee said in a statement.
Other increases include the company paying 80% of employees’ medical aid contributions, the introduction of a new pension fund in January 2023 and back-pay for 12 months at employees’ new rates, to be paid by the company within 14 days.
Botswana targets cement exports by 2023
31 August 2022Botswana: Keletsositse Olebile, the chief executive officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, hopes that the country could become a net exporter of cement in 2023. Olebile made the comment whilst on a tour of the Matsiloje integrated cement plant, according to the Weekend Post newspaper. The cement company was recently acquired by Whale Rock Cement, a Chinese joint-venture based in Namibia. At present the plant is producing 0.1Mt/yr and following a planned investment drive this may rise to 0.9Mt/yr. At present the country imports around 0.62Mt/yr of cement and it is hoped that expanding production at the Matsiloje plant could create the right conditions to create an export market. Matsiloje Portland Cement, the previous owners of the Matsiloje plant, closed in 2018 due to competition from South African imports.
Cheetah told to slow down
22 August 2022Namibia: Limestone mining hours at Cheetah Cement were reduced by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation on 19 August 2022. In a notice issued by the ministry, the company was ordered to stop operational activities in its quarry site between 18:00 and 06:00 due to insufficient lighting at the site. The same notice also temporarily suspends the use of forklift machines inside the factory until they are serviced to a satisfactory level.
“The notice is in full force from 19 August 2022 until all corrective measures are effected to the occupational and health safety officers of the ministry,” stated the notice.
Cheetah Cement’s Public Relations O fficer, Tabby Moyo, said that the suspension for overnight mining would not affect the company, as mining during daylight hours provides sufficient raw materials for production, adding that any other irregularities indicated in the notice will be resolved as soon as possible.
This is the second time that Cheetah Cement has been issued a notice by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation due to non-compliance of labour laws relating to the health and safety of employees. In May 2022, the factory was closed for 11 days when the factory was instructed to rectify issues in its cement mill, packing plant, warehouse and workshop.
Cheetah Cement workers strike
25 July 2022Namibia: 200 Cheetah Cement employees have gone on strike to protest low wages and lack of pensions and medical aid. The Namibia Press Agency has reported that salaries have fallen behind inflation, having remained level for four years.
Cheetah Cement general manager Kevin Lee called strikers’ demands ‘unrealistic’ and said that the producer had done everything in its power, but now ended in a ‘deadlock’ with workers.
Whale Rock Cement cleared to resume operations
01 June 2022Namibia: The Namibian government has granted Whale Rock Cement permission to resume production of its Cheetah brand cement at its Otjiwarongo grinding plant. Authorities suspended operations at the plant on 10 May 2022.Labour Ministry acting executive director Lydia Indombo cited multiple contraventions of occupational safety regulations, including failure to issue personal protective equipment (PPE), failure to maintain good housekeeping, lack of sanitary conveniences and lack of first aid equipment, as the cause of the suspension.
Indombo said "The ministry conducted verification inspections on 16 and 20 May 2022 to evaluate the compliance on the identified shortfalls and is satisfied with the level of compliance." She added that the ministry had recommended the resumption of production activities.
Namibia: The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation has shut down production at the Whale Rock Cement plant near Otjiwarongo due to non-compliance with labour laws on the health and safety of employees. A notice was delivered instructing the factory to close its grinding station, packing machine, cement warehouse and cement workshop, according to the Namibia Press Agency. The plant has been ordered to remain closed until all hazardous areas have been made safe. This is expected to take a week. Affected employees are entitled to full remuneration during this period.
The decision to close the plant followed labour inspections in April and May 2022. During the inspections one employee reportedly lost a finger at the pallet stacking area and another sustained finger injuries when he was unblocking the dust collector. Workers said that they work in a dusty environment with no dust masks. They also alleged that a Chinese supervisor brings a gun to work to intimidate them.
The cement company is a Chinese joint-venture and it also trades under the Cheetah Cement brand name. Around 210 Namibians and 44 Chinese nationals work for the company. In April 2022 eight workers at the plant were deported to China for working without adequate work permits.
Namibia: Immigration authorities have deported eight illegal Whale Rock Cement workers back to China. The Namibia Press Agency has reported that a court sentenced the Chinese nationals to deportation and fined them US$403 each.
Whale Rock Cement has reportedly launched its own legal action against vigilante workers’ rights group Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), which uncovered the illegal practices, for trespassing.
Namibia: Immigration authorities have apprehended eight Chinese employees of Whale Rock Cement at the company’s Otjiwarongo grinding plant who failed to produce working permits during an inspection. Namibian Press Agency News has reported that seven of the workers have been in Namibia since mid-2021, while the eighth arrived in March 2022.
Ohorongo hampered by coronavirus limitations
26 August 2020Namibia: Ohorongo Cement, despite not having any coronavirus cases itself, has seen a steep decline in demand for cement due to the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In an interview with local press, Frankleen Alberts, Manager of Customer Relations and Public Affairs at Namibia’s only integrated cement plant, said that, while domestic sales had suffered from a slowdown in public works and lower private construction levels, the closure of Namibia’s borders had all but eliminated opportunities for exports. It had also hampered the company’s supply chains.
Alberts said, “Cement sales have been affected since the outbreak of the virus. We were able to continue supplying our Namibian market without major interruptions while adhering to the regulations under the state of emergency. However, due to the restrictions and quarantine rules by neighbouring countries, our export market suffered adversely.” She added, “Due to the restrictions on travel and flights, the supply chain is affected and this includes inbound and outbound logistics, in terms of export sales.”
Alberts said that day-to-day operations at the company have not been affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as the company had introduced regulations as published by government and as required by the ministry of mines and energy to ensure the safety of employees while continuing with operations. None of the company’s employees was furloughed or laid off.