The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) have called on media employers in Namibia to respect the rights, dignity and welfare of journalists and other media workers amid concerns over their treatment at the Free Press of Namibia and the Namibia Media Trust (NMT).
The two international and continental journalists’ organisations expressed solidarity with their Namibian affiliate, the Namibia Media Professionals Union (NAMPU), which raised concerns over a communication issued to workers on September 2.
According to NAMPU, the communication contained warnings of possible disciplinary action, concerns regarding employees’ use of sick leave and references to workers being monitored and photographed during working hours.
The IFJ and FAJ said such actions, if confirmed, could undermine workers’ fundamental rights, including their right to privacy, freedom of association and protection from intimidation in the workplace.
FAJ President Omar Faruk Osman said journalists should not be subjected to intimidation or surveillance simply for exercising their lawful rights.
“When journalists are subjected to intimidation, surveillance or threats for exercising their lawful rights, their dignity as workers and their freedom as journalists are both seriously endangered,” Osman said.
He criticised the contradiction of media organisations publicly defending press freedom while workers experience fear and insecurity within their own newsrooms.
Osman urged management to take NAMPU’s concerns seriously and engage the union in good faith to resolve the issues and restore confidence among employees.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger also stressed that press freedom must include respect for journalists’ rights within the workplace.
“There can be no real press freedom where journalists are denied their fundamental rights as workers,” Bellanger said.
He called on the management of NMT and the Free Press of Namibia to end any form of intimidation or intrusive surveillance, respect workers’ rights and engage in meaningful social dialogue with NAMPU.
The IFJ and FAJ further supported NAMPU’s position that sick leave is a statutory right and that employees must be able to exercise that right without intimidation, victimisation or threats of disciplinary action.
The organisations have called for safe and conducive working conditions for journalists and other media workers, while urging management to address the union’s concerns and work towards a fair and lasting resolution.
They also pointed to The Namibian’s long-standing reputation for defending media freedom, arguing that the same principles of freedom, dignity and respect for human rights should apply within the newsroom.
The IFJ and FAJ maintained that true media freedom starts with the people who practise journalism and that journalists cannot effectively defend democratic values when their own workplace rights and dignity are not protected.
