Written by Shinovene Immanuel | From The Namibian

Thirty-five trade unions, out of about 50, are at risk of being de-registered after it emerged that they have not submitted their respective annual financial reports, with some failing to account since their interception a decade ago.

Labour Commissioner Bro-Mathew Shinguadja confirmed over the weekend that he has written to each non-compliant union and expects them to explain why they have not submitted their financial reports. Shinguadja said the unions should write back immediately and provide reasons on why they should not be de-registered.

According to Shinguadja, deadlines for some unions to submit their documents have passed, and the unions, as a consequence, are on the verge of getting their red cards.

Some unions such as the Tourism and Allied Workers Union of Namibia, which was formed in 2005, the Namibia Domestic Workers Union, which started in 1993 and the Federation of Security Employers in Namibia, which began its work in 1993, have not submitted annual reports since their interception.

He also said the Namibia Food and Allied and Workers Union (Nafwu), the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) and their umbrella body, the National Union of Namibian Workers’ (NUNW), which has been embroiled in leadership squabbles over the years, are in the red.

The Namibia Security Workers Union did not provide any information to the labour commission since it began its operations in 1995.

The Namibia Fishing Industries and Fisherman Workers Union have not accounted for their finances since 2003, while the Namibia Taxi and Transport Union (NTTU) failed to submit their financial accounts in 2006, when it was formed. NTTU is the same union, which last month, recommended that the taxi fare be increased to N$13.

Read more at The Namibian