Labour minister to crack down on minimum wage violators
Labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel has warned employers to comply with the minimum wage order, saying the ministry will not hesitate to take action against those who continue to exploit workers.
Although the new wage took effect on 1 January this year, the minister said only around two-thirds of Namibian employers have complied, leaving thousands of workers vulnerable to underpayment.
The minister emphasised that, for all other sectors, no employer is permitted to pay any worker less than N$18 per hour.
He added that nevertheless, cases of non-compliance persist, underscoring the need for enforcement.
“We are still encountering incidents where some employers are not complying. In response, we are engaging with these employers to educate them on what is expected of them. The law, in its current form, empowers the ministry to take non-compliant employers to court,” he warned.
“While we have not yet reached that stage, we will do so in due course to ensure full compliance with the law."
Speaking at the recent launch of the Public-Private Forum, Immanuel explained that effective 1 January, “every employer, except those in the security, agriculture, and domestic sectors, is required to implement the minimum wage on a phased basis. These exempted sectors are expected to be fully compliant by 1 January 2027.”
Immanuel added that the Public-Private Forum serves as an ideal platform to advocate for compliance among employers, noting that most of the delegates present were themselves company owners.
He further explained that government's responsibility in creating decent and sustainable jobs goes beyond merely creating employment opportunities.
“The government is equally concerned about job security, not merely about creating jobs, but about ensuring their longevity and stability,” he said.
Violating clear laws
Immanuel told the National Assembly about a month ago that 67% of inspected businesses were in compliance, but a significant 33% were still violating the law.
The figures emerged in response to a query by Swapo MP Justina Jonas on the enforcement of the new wage regime.
According to Immanuel, 716 workplaces across the country have been inspected since the start of 2025.
Of these, 481 were fully compliant, while 235 failed to meet the N$18 per hour minimum wage set by law. “We are seeing some good progress,” the minister said. “But the 33% non-compliance rate is concerning and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
Main culprits
The minister further revealed that 69 compliance orders had been issued to date to offending businesses, with the wholesale and retail sector emerging as the biggest culprits, accounting for 42 cases.
The security industry followed with 25, while smaller numbers were recorded in construction and hospitality.
Speaking at the forum recently, he stressed the importance of balancing workers’ rights and business sustainability. “We are concerned about the sustainability of institutions and employers. That is why, in enforcing labour laws, we always adopt a balanced approach, one that promotes decent work and fair wages for workers while remaining mindful of the sustainability of businesses."
Immanuel said government has long maintained that harmonious industrial relations depend on a “tripartite equation” involving all key stakeholders.
“On behalf of the government, we have consistently emphasised that within the tripartite framework, there must be a conscious government, a reasonable employer, and a responsible worker. This is the only way to ensure that the tripartite relationship necessary for harmonious industrial relations is maintained."
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Although the new wage took effect on 1 January this year, the minister said only around two-thirds of Namibian employers have complied, leaving thousands of workers vulnerable to underpayment.
The minister emphasised that, for all other sectors, no employer is permitted to pay any worker less than N$18 per hour.
He added that nevertheless, cases of non-compliance persist, underscoring the need for enforcement.
“We are still encountering incidents where some employers are not complying. In response, we are engaging with these employers to educate them on what is expected of them. The law, in its current form, empowers the ministry to take non-compliant employers to court,” he warned.
“While we have not yet reached that stage, we will do so in due course to ensure full compliance with the law."
Speaking at the recent launch of the Public-Private Forum, Immanuel explained that effective 1 January, “every employer, except those in the security, agriculture, and domestic sectors, is required to implement the minimum wage on a phased basis. These exempted sectors are expected to be fully compliant by 1 January 2027.”
Immanuel added that the Public-Private Forum serves as an ideal platform to advocate for compliance among employers, noting that most of the delegates present were themselves company owners.
He further explained that government's responsibility in creating decent and sustainable jobs goes beyond merely creating employment opportunities.
“The government is equally concerned about job security, not merely about creating jobs, but about ensuring their longevity and stability,” he said.
Violating clear laws
Immanuel told the National Assembly about a month ago that 67% of inspected businesses were in compliance, but a significant 33% were still violating the law.
The figures emerged in response to a query by Swapo MP Justina Jonas on the enforcement of the new wage regime.
According to Immanuel, 716 workplaces across the country have been inspected since the start of 2025.
Of these, 481 were fully compliant, while 235 failed to meet the N$18 per hour minimum wage set by law. “We are seeing some good progress,” the minister said. “But the 33% non-compliance rate is concerning and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
Main culprits
The minister further revealed that 69 compliance orders had been issued to date to offending businesses, with the wholesale and retail sector emerging as the biggest culprits, accounting for 42 cases.
The security industry followed with 25, while smaller numbers were recorded in construction and hospitality.
Speaking at the forum recently, he stressed the importance of balancing workers’ rights and business sustainability. “We are concerned about the sustainability of institutions and employers. That is why, in enforcing labour laws, we always adopt a balanced approach, one that promotes decent work and fair wages for workers while remaining mindful of the sustainability of businesses."
Immanuel said government has long maintained that harmonious industrial relations depend on a “tripartite equation” involving all key stakeholders.
“On behalf of the government, we have consistently emphasised that within the tripartite framework, there must be a conscious government, a reasonable employer, and a responsible worker. This is the only way to ensure that the tripartite relationship necessary for harmonious industrial relations is maintained."
[email protected]
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