Farmworkers enjoy decent pay – report
Farmworkers in the commercial sector of Namibia are – on average – currently paid more than 80% of the minimum hourly wage, a survey found.
This while their total remuneration package has more than doubled over the past six years from N$1 667 per month in 2016 to N$3 933 in 2022.
On average, there are 7.82 employees per employer on commercial farms in Namibia, compared to 8.82 in 2020.
The Wage Survey Report, published by the Agricultural Employers’ Association, represents 2 207 permanent employees.
A total of 1 363 (56.60%) of all permanent employees in this survey have their dependents living on farms with them (2020 – 57.11%).
The average employment period for permanent employees in Namibia is 7.37 years, while a general worker is by far the most frequent job category for employees on farms at 58.6%.
A remuneration package is made up of a cash wage, a cash allowance, dry rations, wet rations, other farm produced foods as well as housing, livestock and free transport.
For 2022, the monetary component of employees’ remuneration comprised 66%, while the non-monetary component comprised 34% of the total package.
According to the report, the current entry-level minimum wage of N$ 5.40 per hour came into force in January.
“The actual average hourly wage of farmworkers, according to this survey, is N$9.98 per hour, which is 84.81% more than the current minimum wage.”
Substance abuse
Furthermore, the report found that 33.9% of employers reported cases of alcohol and substance abuse amongst their employees within the reporting period.
There has also been an increase of farmworkers being dismissed for the abuse of alcohol since 2018 - from 4.9% to 6.3%.
Most of the job terminations were resignations (35.5%) and workplace desertion (22.7%), while 46.4% of all terminations during the 2021/2022 financial year were due to dismissals.
Only 2.3% of employees were retrenched.
Theft by farmworkers increased since 2018 - from 4.7% to 5.6%.
A total of 304 farmworkers left their place of work within the survey period, according to the respondents. This figure represents 11.07% of all employees in the survey, in comparison with 13.37% in 2020.
Living conditions
Farmers indicated that there are 2 550 employee houses on land where farming activities is conducted, while 39.41% of employees’ houses have own wash and toilet facilities. The rest of employees make use of shared ablution blocks.
The average valuation of a typical farmworker’s house with a shower, toilet and covered veranda is approximately N$3 600 per square metre.
Meanwhile, 66.89% of employee households in the survey are provided with electricity, while 29.84% of households have access to solar power.
The survey found that 87.07% of employee households use firewood on a daily base at no cost. The average value of this additional benefit of farm employees is estimated at N$450 per employee per month.
Injuries on duty
There was a slight decrease in injuries suffered while on duty, compared to the previous wage report.
A total of 10.54% of employers reported 78 injuries on duty. Of these cases, 18 were treated exclusively on the farm and 43 were treated at a medical facility.
In 2020, 10.7% of employers reported 102 injuries on duty.
This while their total remuneration package has more than doubled over the past six years from N$1 667 per month in 2016 to N$3 933 in 2022.
On average, there are 7.82 employees per employer on commercial farms in Namibia, compared to 8.82 in 2020.
The Wage Survey Report, published by the Agricultural Employers’ Association, represents 2 207 permanent employees.
A total of 1 363 (56.60%) of all permanent employees in this survey have their dependents living on farms with them (2020 – 57.11%).
The average employment period for permanent employees in Namibia is 7.37 years, while a general worker is by far the most frequent job category for employees on farms at 58.6%.
A remuneration package is made up of a cash wage, a cash allowance, dry rations, wet rations, other farm produced foods as well as housing, livestock and free transport.
For 2022, the monetary component of employees’ remuneration comprised 66%, while the non-monetary component comprised 34% of the total package.
According to the report, the current entry-level minimum wage of N$ 5.40 per hour came into force in January.
“The actual average hourly wage of farmworkers, according to this survey, is N$9.98 per hour, which is 84.81% more than the current minimum wage.”
Substance abuse
Furthermore, the report found that 33.9% of employers reported cases of alcohol and substance abuse amongst their employees within the reporting period.
There has also been an increase of farmworkers being dismissed for the abuse of alcohol since 2018 - from 4.9% to 6.3%.
Most of the job terminations were resignations (35.5%) and workplace desertion (22.7%), while 46.4% of all terminations during the 2021/2022 financial year were due to dismissals.
Only 2.3% of employees were retrenched.
Theft by farmworkers increased since 2018 - from 4.7% to 5.6%.
A total of 304 farmworkers left their place of work within the survey period, according to the respondents. This figure represents 11.07% of all employees in the survey, in comparison with 13.37% in 2020.
Living conditions
Farmers indicated that there are 2 550 employee houses on land where farming activities is conducted, while 39.41% of employees’ houses have own wash and toilet facilities. The rest of employees make use of shared ablution blocks.
The average valuation of a typical farmworker’s house with a shower, toilet and covered veranda is approximately N$3 600 per square metre.
Meanwhile, 66.89% of employee households in the survey are provided with electricity, while 29.84% of households have access to solar power.
The survey found that 87.07% of employee households use firewood on a daily base at no cost. The average value of this additional benefit of farm employees is estimated at N$450 per employee per month.
Injuries on duty
There was a slight decrease in injuries suffered while on duty, compared to the previous wage report.
A total of 10.54% of employers reported 78 injuries on duty. Of these cases, 18 were treated exclusively on the farm and 43 were treated at a medical facility.
In 2020, 10.7% of employers reported 102 injuries on duty.
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