Govt wage bill to hit N$37.1bn

Government added 4 302 employees to the public service over the past financial year, pushing the total workforce from 110 002 to 114 304, according to the Public Service Commission.

Over the same period, spending on staff compensation reached N$35.4 billion, according to national budget figures.

Treasury projections indicate the wage bill is expected to rise to N$36.3 billion in 2025/26 and further to N$37.1 billion in 2026/27.

The figures were presented in Windhoek yesterday during the commission’s 2024/25 annual report, tabled by chairperson Patrick Nandago.

Nandago outlined staffing trends, recruitment patterns, disciplinary cases and human resource reforms across government offices, ministries, agencies and regional councils.

Gender gap at senior level

The commission reported that the public service grew by 3.9% in one year, with women making up a majority of employees.

While the commission’s report focused largely on internal administration, the staffing increase comes against the backdrop of a steadily rising wage bill, one of the largest recurring costs in the national budget.

The commission also confirmed that women now make up the majority of the public service workforce, accounting for 61 528 employees (54%), while men account for 52 776 (46%).

However, that trend changes at management level.

Of the 1 296 employees in management positions, a majority – 763, or 59% – are men, while women account for 533, or 41%.

The commission said implementation of affirmative action remains a challenge in senior positions and pledged continued efforts to improve representation.

Recruitment below management level was concentrated heavily in the health sector.

A total of 749 staff members were appointed to non-management posts during the reporting period, with the Ministry of Health and Social Services accounting for 590 appointments, or 79% of the total.

Pressing needs in health sector

The commission also reported that 30 foreign nationals were appointed during the year, with 28 employed by the health ministry, mainly in scarce and specialised professions such as medical specialists, doctors and pharmacists.

The figures point to continued pressure in the health sector, where government has often struggled to fill technical posts locally, particularly in remote areas and specialist fields.

In another sign of skills shortages, 16 employees aged 60 and above were retained in the public service beyond retirement age because their expertise was considered necessary to government operations.

On governance matters, the commission said it received 141 misconduct cases, of which 121 were finalised during the reporting period. Out of those finalised matters, 33 employees were dismissed for offences including theft, embezzlement, misuse of state property and abscondment.

It also dealt with 72 complaints, mostly linked to recruitment processes, as well as 37 misconduct appeals and 14 reinstatement cases. The commission said delays by some institutions in submitting requested information slowed finalisation of cases.

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