Otjiwarongo Choppies employees handed in a petition demanding the banning of flexi-hour contracts as well as the retrenchment of some employees, which the company wants to undertake.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union's Branch Organiser Joseph Immanuel said Choppies, after the implementation of the national minimum wage, issued retrenchment notices in March.

Employees who received such notices are currently on flexi-hour contracts.

"We have been paid the salary for domestic work, and with the salary of N$1,500, we are unable to pay his bills and bring the food to the table as well as send our children to school. Currently those 200 employees are on flex working for six hours in a day, 64 hours in a month, which amounts to 1,152 per month, which is peanuts.

Otjiwarongo's Choppies Branch Manager Maureen Katjiparatjivi received and signed the petition.