Namibia's Namdeb Diamond Corporation will be put on an "indefinite standstill" if the company, which this week announced the closing of the Bogenfels diamond mining operation, transfers Bogenfels employees to other projects without issuing housing and utility allowances, the Informante news website reports.

Shavuka Mbidhi, Chairman of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) said that some employees who have already been moved to other Namdeb diamond projects had kept their benefits and been allotted company housing.

According to Namdeb Brand Manager Pauline Thomas, the diamond producer is making efforts to accommodate the Bogenfels employees. Thomas added that 71 Bogenfels workers will be needed to complete a rehabilitation project at the site, which is expected to be completed by July 2011, but that other jobs would have to be found for the remaining 53.