WINDHOEK: The Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna), Mahongora Kavihuha, has described the polygraph testing conducted at Woermann and Brock retail shops in the capital as “inhumane and illegal”.

All contract employees at Woermann Brock Hyper in Khomasdal on Wednesday had to undergo such tests to find out if they are honest, trustworthy and reliable before they could be employed on a permanent basis.

“That is disrespect for human dignity, as no employee was informed of the test before. Even if it is part of the contract agreement, employees do not know the reason for the test,” Kavihuha told Nampa on Wednesday.

He said one of the employees was allegedly dismissed on Wednesday after completing the test, with no reasons provided for his dismissal.

Contacted for comment, one of the shop’s human resources’ (HR) officers, who refused to provide his name, said the polygraph test is part of a contract signed by all employees working for the shop on a temporary basis.

A copy of the contract provided to Nampa reads: “I hereby agree to a voluntary polygraph test, and agree that failure of such a test will result in an immediate termination of my contract of employment with Woermann Brock”.

The HR officer said a large number of employees who work on contract basis for three months, went through this test at about eight branches in the Katutura area.

“This is the policy of the company, and all of us went through this before being employed on a permanent basis,” he noted.

He, however, denied knowledge of any dismissal at that shop today, saying he only knows of one employee who was dismissed a few weeks ago at their Otjomuise branch.