AEA pushes labour ministry for clarity on farmworker benefits
Hourly pay rises, but fringe benefits still mandatory
The Agricultural Employers' Association (AEA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the justice and labour relations ministry's responses on in-kind benefits that agricultural employers must continue to provide to farmworkers in addition to the national minimum wage.
In a statement published in the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) newsletter, the AEA said it would continue engaging with the ministry and press for proper consultation and deliberation to prevent further job losses.
Namibia’s national minimum wage was gazetted on 7 August 2024 and applies to all sectors of the economy.
Under the regulations, the national minimum wage is set at N$18 an hour from 1 January 2025, although a three-year phased-in concession was granted for agricultural workers, starting at N$10 an hour in January 2025, increasing to N$14 an hour in January 2026, and reaching N$18 an hour in January 2027.
“This means that, from this month, farmworkers must receive a cash wage of at least N$14 an hour, up from last year’s N$10 an hour,” the AEA explained.
Further engagements
The regulations further stipulate that the national minimum wage does not replace the 2023 farmworkers minimum payment package, but only prescribes the minimum cash wage.
“Farm workers will therefore still be entitled to all the other existing fringe benefits in the farm worker minimum wage agreement of 2023, including housing, water, electricity and food provision,” the association clarified.
The AEA said it has so far been unable to convince the labour ministry that farmworkers’ in-kind benefits should form part of the national hourly wage of N$14.
“As a result, farmers are, by law, still required, in addition to the N$14 an hour, to provide housing with water and sanitation, as well as one of the three ration options, namely access to livestock or land for crop production; or free food for the worker and their family; or a ration allowance of N$650 a month.”
The association underlined that in summary, the remuneration and fringe benefits of farmworkers remain unchanged and only the minimum cash wage is increased from N$ 10.00/hour to N$ 14.00/hour as from this month.”
In a statement published in the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) newsletter, the AEA said it would continue engaging with the ministry and press for proper consultation and deliberation to prevent further job losses.
Namibia’s national minimum wage was gazetted on 7 August 2024 and applies to all sectors of the economy.
Under the regulations, the national minimum wage is set at N$18 an hour from 1 January 2025, although a three-year phased-in concession was granted for agricultural workers, starting at N$10 an hour in January 2025, increasing to N$14 an hour in January 2026, and reaching N$18 an hour in January 2027.
“This means that, from this month, farmworkers must receive a cash wage of at least N$14 an hour, up from last year’s N$10 an hour,” the AEA explained.
Further engagements
The regulations further stipulate that the national minimum wage does not replace the 2023 farmworkers minimum payment package, but only prescribes the minimum cash wage.
“Farm workers will therefore still be entitled to all the other existing fringe benefits in the farm worker minimum wage agreement of 2023, including housing, water, electricity and food provision,” the association clarified.
The AEA said it has so far been unable to convince the labour ministry that farmworkers’ in-kind benefits should form part of the national hourly wage of N$14.
“As a result, farmers are, by law, still required, in addition to the N$14 an hour, to provide housing with water and sanitation, as well as one of the three ration options, namely access to livestock or land for crop production; or free food for the worker and their family; or a ration allowance of N$650 a month.”
The association underlined that in summary, the remuneration and fringe benefits of farmworkers remain unchanged and only the minimum cash wage is increased from N$ 10.00/hour to N$ 14.00/hour as from this month.”
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