Unpaid Hodago Fishermen Move Onto Venus 1
At least 22 unpaid Hodago Fishing fishermen have moved onto the company's freezer trawler Venus 1 in Walvis Bay to press for their outstanding salaries, New Era reported on Friday, 25 September 2026. The workers say they have gone months without full pay, have had no direct contact with the company's directors since July, and will stay on board until they are paid.
Key points
At least 22 fishermen employed by Hodago Fishing have moved onto the vessel Venus 1 in Walvis Bay, according to New Era.
Workers say salaries have been paid late for months; one said November and December salaries only arrived in February 2026.
The fishermen say they have received no retrenchment letters and no formal word on whether they are still employed.
Hodago says its directors are seeking funding to pay all creditors and employees, but ongoing legal proceedings are taking longer than expected.
Venus 1 was earlier set for auction after Standard Bank Namibia went to the High Court over unpaid debt; that auction was later withdrawn.
What happened in Walvis Bay
According to New Era, the fishermen moved onto Venus 1 after attempts to get answers from their employer failed. Some have been evicted from their homes and others face growing bank debt, the newspaper reported. They have vowed to remain on the vessel until their outstanding salaries are paid.
Festus Ndafonghoshi, who told New Era he has worked for Hodago for about 10 years as a motorman in the engine room of Venus 1, said the salary delays have hit his family hard. He said the crew's November and December salaries were only received in February this year. "I cannot supply food. I cannot pay school fees. I have kids at Unam, and I have a house," he said.
Ndafonghoshi said workers had written to several authorities, including the minister, the president and the governor, without a response. "Hence, we decided to go to the vessel because our directors have not been communicating with us for a long time. The last time they spoke to me was in July," he told the newspaper.
Another worker, Matheus Iita, who said he has worked for Hodago for three years, told New Era he was forced out of his rented accommodation after he could not pay his monthly rent. "I decided to come here because I don't know where I can go. They must take care of me until they pay me," he said.
Workers unsure if they still have jobs
The fishermen told New Era they are "in the dark" about their employment. They have not received retrenchment letters, and the company has not formally said whether they will remain employed. "Even the banks are asking us, but we don't know where we stand with the company," Iita said. The workers added that their life and funeral cover policies have lapsed because of the salary crisis.
What the company says
Hodago Fishing's strategic and governance coordinator, Frieda Mutongolume, told New Era that Kuiseb Fishing had signed a cession giving Gendev operational authority until the matter is resolved. "The directors are seeking funding to pay all creditors and employees. However, the legal proceedings are ongoing and taking longer than expected. Once they are resolved, operations will resume under the new strategy," she said.
Background: months of financial trouble
Hodago's problems are not new. In May, New Era reported an internal memo in which management told staff the company was experiencing "severe cash flow constraints" and was unsure when salaries would be settled. The company has also been in court with Zambian firm Delmare Group Limited over about 600 tonnes of horse mackerel.
In June, the Windhoek Observer reported that Venus 1, valued at about N$65 million, had been put up for auction after the High Court granted an application by Standard Bank Namibia to recover money owed by Hodago. The newspaper reported the company faced "unpaid debts, wage disputes and a string of legal battles". New Era now reports that the auction was later withdrawn, and that the loan amounts fell due in April 2026.
The Windhoek Observer has reported that Hodago is 45% owned by Gendev Fishing Resources, a company linked to Swapo's business interests. Workers at the wider Gendev Fishing Group have separately been in a wage dispute with the company this month, New Era reported earlier.
What it means for workers and job seekers
Fishing is one of Namibia's largest employers at the coast, and Walvis Bay households depend heavily on regular pay from vessels and factories. When salaries stop, the damage spreads quickly: rent arrears, lapsed insurance, bank penalties and children taken out of school or sent to relatives.
Workers who are owed wages have options under Namibian labour law. They can approach their trade union, or report a dispute to the Office of the Labour Commissioner, which handles conciliation and arbitration of labour disputes. Keeping payslips, contracts, bank statements and any written communication from the employer helps when a claim is lodged. Job seekers looking at fishing-sector work should ask about pay dates and the employer's track record before signing. For more on job hunting, see our guide on why job applications get rejected and how to fix them, and for other recent labour news in the region, read South Africa's 1 Million Jobs Plan: What It Means.
What happens next
The fishermen say they will stay on Venus 1 until they are paid. Hodago says operations will resume once legal proceedings are resolved, but has not given a date for payment. jobsiz.com will update this story when the company, the union or the labour ministry gives more information.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Hodago fishermen move onto Venus 1?
According to New Era, at least 22 fishermen moved onto the vessel to force Hodago Fishing to pay outstanding salaries after months of late or missing pay and no contact from the directors since July.
Has Hodago Fishing responded?
Yes. A company spokesperson told New Era that the directors are seeking funding to pay all creditors and employees, but legal proceedings are taking longer than expected.
Are the Hodago workers still employed?
The workers say they do not know. They have not received retrenchment letters or formal communication about their employment status.
Where can Namibian workers report unpaid wages?
Workers can approach their trade union or lodge a dispute with the Office of the Labour Commissioner.
Sources: New Era, Windhoek Observer.