City of Windhoek Addresses Ward Cleaners’ Employment Concerns

The City of Windhoek has issued a statement addressing recent media reports and concerns regarding the Ward Cleaners’ contracts and employment conditions.

The city aims to clarify the situation and correct any misinformation about the employment relationship between the Ward Cleaners and the city.

During a council meeting on July 24, 2024, a resolution was made to offer the Ward Cleaners a five-year contract upon the expiration of their current contracts on July 31, 2024.

This unprecedented offer is intended to address the Ward Cleaners’ job security concerns and includes commitments to explore sustainable options for their business model, remuneration, and benefits.

The city council’s decision to extend contracts from one year to five years aligns with past efforts to improve the Ward Cleaners’ working conditions.

Previous measures have already led to significant improvements, including better remuneration, pension allowances, medical benefits, and social security, which were not available to the Ward Cleaners before the city’s insourcing decision in 2018.

However, a recent arbitration award from the Office of the Labour Commissioner on July 30, 2024, has created a challenge.

The award classifies the Ward Cleaners as “Permanent Employees” starting September 2, 2024.

This creates a gap in the employment relationship between August 1 and September 1, 2024, due to the misalignment of contract timelines.Both parties involved in the dispute have the right to explore solutions and ensure that constitutional rights are upheld.

The city encourages the Ward Cleaners to sign the offered five-year contracts to mitigate operational and legal risks during the employment gap.

To demonstrate its commitment, the city has enriched the contracts to acknowledge the Labour Award and commit to honoring a final court order once the legal process concludes.

The Ward Cleaners, through their representative unions, have agreed to enter into the five-year contracts starting August 5, 2024.

The City of Windhoek remains dedicated to engaging with the Ward Cleaners and addressing their concerns in a fair and equitable manner, reflecting its commitment to good governance and labor practices.