GOVERNMENT yesterday threatened "bad [foreign] employers" in the construction industry that they risk losing their work permits and public tenders if they continue to ignore the labour law and exploit Namibian workers.

Speaking on the final day of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union's (Manwu) conference on challenges facing those working in the construction industry, Alpheus Muheua, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, said the "general outcry" and continued allegations of the abuse of construction workers by especially some Chinese companies cannot be left unchallenged for "one minute longer".

Both the union and local employers complained about slave wages, unfair labour practices, poor living conditions and allegations of physical beatings and sexual harassment during the two-day conference, the first of its kind.

Muheua said Government doesn't "condone or allow" abuse of workers by any foreign investor, regardless which country they come from.

The Deputy Minister said the punitive measures to the Ministry's disposal should be looked at and put to full use. These include, but are not restricted to, public tenders and the issuance of work permits and other national documents, he said.

Government came under fire during the conference for granting Chinese companies public tenders despite complaints that some of them don't pay the legal minimum wage of N$9,57 per hour or issue their workers with basic safety gear. The Labour Ministry was also criticised for not monitoring workers' conditions on the ground.

Muheua admitted that the capacity of Government to do regular inspections needed to be improved as a "matter of urgency".