The Ramatex factory is undoubtedly the most spectacular foreign investment in Namibia since independence. The massive size of Ramatex’s operations, the establishment of a totally new industry and the controversies surrounding the company's environmental impact and working conditions, have made Ramatex one of the most talked-about companies in Namibia today. The company is not only the subject of debate amongst politicians, business people, researchers and the media, but also among ordinary men and women on the streets of Windhoek.

Even before Ramatex started its operations in Namibia in 2002, the company made headlines, as it was the biggest investment in terms of the government Export Processing Zone (EPZ) programme. Government proudly announced that it had secured the Ramatex investment ahead of South Africa and Madagascar, which had also been considered as possible locations by the company. Ramatex and its subsidiaries are expected to create almost 8 000 jobs in Namibia, but concerns were raised regarding the company's impact on the environment, health and safety issues as well as the working conditions for Ramatex workers.

This booklet will not discuss all aspects in detail but will give a brief overview of Namibia's EPZ programme as well as a profile of the Ramatex Company. The main part of this booklet deals with the experiences of Ramatex workers. All too often their views are discarded by policy makers who simply argue that ‘workers should be grateful to have any job at all’. We believe that development must be a people-centred process that cannot ignore the views of those directly affected. We therefore hope that this booklet will contribute towards making the experiences of Ramatex workers known. This booklet will present their stories as they have told them. We also hope that this booklet will contribute to a debate about the costs and benefits of investments like Ramatex in terms of long-term sustainable development.

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