The Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (NARETU) said it has recorded over 130 labour disputes since January, of which 52 have been resolved.

Its leader, Peterson Kambinda, said the rise in dismissals for minor infractions reflects a worrying trend of disciplinary abuse, intimidation and disregard for fairness across multiple sectors.

NARETU's membership has, over the years, grown to over 6,000, holding 81 recognition agreements, of which 25 are within the manufacturing industry.

Kambinda stated that numerous settlements were secured over the course of the year, where workers were either reinstated or compensated.

Kambinda said wage negotiations were a central focus this year, with over 50 proposals submitted and 36 successfully concluded. Others are still ongoing.

"A lot of the employees in manufacturing – you will be able to see that a company could have been in existence for 30 years, but still there is no employee who is being paid N$7,000 or N$8,000. It is very, very worrisome, and the economy is still in the hands of few, and this is the stance which the union would like to be able to change, that our position is not going to remain that way."

As the union approaches 2026, NARETU's priorities include organisational restructuring, strengthening legal capacity, deepening worker education and improving data systems.