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B2GOLD Namibia disagrees with the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation’s position on the suspension of 200 employees, insisting the company did not act illegally.

The labour ministry on Monday said the Canadian mining company did not interpret the Labour Act correctly when it suspended over 200 workers at its Otjikoto Mine in Namibia.

The ministry said the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) also acted wrongly when it told employees to stop working after 17:00.

The suspension came after the union advised its members to stop working after eight hours of work completed every day.

The mining company in a press statement issued yesterday afternoon, said the MUN could not provide a rationale for its claim that the company’s continuous operation permit is not valid during their meeting on the stoppage of work.

“The Otjikoto Mine employees continued with the illegal work stoppage and refused to work the full number of hours as per their scheduled shifts. Despite the illegal work stoppage, the Otjikoto Mine continues to operate,” the company said.

It said the employees’ suspension was in accordance with the company’s disciplinary code, which was signed by every employee at the mine.

MUN branch executive Jason Uiseb, however, says B2Gold has not been responsive to the union’s letters sent on 29 September.

B2Gold Namibia, however, believes the union should have lodged a dispute at the Office of the Labour Commissioner to resolve any concerns.

“Rather than adhering to the agreed upon mechanism, the union opted for an illegal work stoppage despite being cautioned that such activity was illegal, and that it would result in disciplinary measures,” the company’s statement reads.

The mining company denies receiving its continuous operations permit late, despite the ministry confirming it had been delayed.

“B2Gold Namibia submitted a renewal application to the ministry of labour in January 2021, prior to the expiry of the previous, which was valid until 31 May 2021.

“The ministry of labour approved and issued the new continuous operations permit on 25 March 2021 for the period commencing on 1 June 2021, and expiring on 31 May 2024,” the statement reads.

The ministry on Monday said B2Gold obtained its permit for its power plant and mobile crusher, but its mining permit was submitted afterwards.

Acting executive director of labour, industrial relations and employment creation Balbina Pienaar says B2Gold wrote a letter to minister Utoni Nujoma to renew its initial continuous operations status for mining operations, without submitting the required documentation.

“There was an unfortunate delay in the processing of the letter. However, after several exchanges between the employer and the ministry, B2Gold submitted to the ministry an application that met the requirements,” the ministry says.

The ministry yesterday had a meeting with B2Gold and the MUN to resolve the misinterpretation of the Labour Act and to restore the previously healthy relationship between the parties involved.