Proposal made for taxi drivers Proposal submitted to Labour Commissioner A union representing taxi drivers wants a recognition agreement as bargaining agent with employers'' associations in the transport industry. The Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has submitted a draft proposal to the Labour Commissioner for a recognition agreement between itself and employers'' associations in the transport industry in an effort to address the working conditions of taxi drivers.The proposal follows several meetings with the Ministry of Works and Transport as well as the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.
During these meetings the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta), Namibian Transport Reform Association (NTRA), and Namibia Public Passenger and the Transport Association (NPPTA) were urged to discuss the concerns raised by the sector and clearly stipulate the roles of employers and employees.
This step followed after taxi drivers organised a demonstration through Windhoek and threatened a nationwide strike should their concerns not be addressed.
The president of NTTU, Werner January, yesterday told Namibian Sun that the proposal was submitted to the Labour Commissioner on Monday and was also hand-delivered to the three employers'' associations. However, according to January, NTRA refused to receive of the document.
According to the proposal NTTU seeks to enter into a recognition agreement with the employers'' associations in the transport sector as an exclusive bargaining agent.
Among the biggest issues to be discussed according to the proposal is the formalisation of the industry as the employees currently have no type of social protection.
It says employees in the industry feel unappreciated and therefore they have adapted a “certain type of attitude”.
The union is asking for better conditions of employment in terms of the Labour Act, saying that a basic salary should be introduced and pay slips must be given to all employees.
It was proposed that a basic salary of N$4 000 should be introduced for taxi drivers driving a sedan vehicle, while local and long-distance drivers of minibuses must be paid N$5 500 plus 20c/km.
It is proposed that Iveco bus drivers be paid N$8 700 plus 30c/km, sedan shuttle drivers should receive N$5 500 and 30c/km while minibus shuttle drivers should receive N$7 500 and 40c/km. Iveco shuttle drivers should receive N$10 300 plus 50c/km.
January said it is important for taxi drivers to move from a commission basis to a fixed salary as they currently do not receive payslips and that is a requirement for entering into contracts.
Furthermore the proposal says that taxi drivers should be provided with social benefits such as pension, disability cover, accident cover, social security, life cover and hospital cover.
It was also pointed out in the proposal that all the basic working conditions according to the labour act should be complied with when it comes to leave days, working at night and working hours.
It is said that overtime, lunch hour and working on Sundays and public holidays should be agreed to between the employee and the employers'' association.
January also said that the proposal stipulates that as long as drivers comply with the conditions of employment according to their contract they should not be held accountable for traffic fines.
The proposal says fines should be issued to the employer as they should have a proper contract of employment stipulating and giving guidance to an employee of what is required of them. However, if an employee acts contrary to what their contract stipulates the employer has the right to discipline them.
January added that fines can be issued to the taxi driver if he was reckless or speeding.
“The employer must realise that they too have a responsibility to the society and have to make sure that things are done in a legally correct manner.”
Once the agreement is finalised it is aimed that it should form part of the Rapid Result Strategy for the Road Public Passenger Transport Industry in Namibia.
ELLANIE SMIT