A CHINESE fishing company which is accused of unfair labour practices, in collaboration with its local partner, has donated N$200 000 to seven Namibian welfare organisations.

China Fishery paid N$24 million to newcomers Hefdy Group to catch the company’s fishing quota for the year.

The Namibian earlier reported about allegations of poor working conditions on a China Fishery Group vessel that was catching fish on behalf of Namibian quota holders until September this year.

The allegations were vehemently denied by China Fishery, who said they always treat their workers with dignity.

The trawler that the fishermen worked on left Namibian waters in September.

China Fishery Group representatives are presently in the country to register a local joint venture with two Namibian consortiums of fishing rights holders.

Swapo parliamentarian Theo Diergaardt is the chairman of one of the consortiums, known as Joka Two Fishing. The other consortium, Hefdy Group, is headed by Betty Aluteni.

The Chinese company paid N$24 million to Hefdy for catching its horse mackerel quota of 100 000 tons.