Construction workers’ minimum wage gazetted

The new minimum wage for construction workers in Namibia was gazetted on December 31, providing returning workers with a sigh of relief following the festive season. Published in the Government Gazette No. 5917 of December 31, 2015 by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, the new minimum wage is N$14.70 per hour, about 10% more than the initial amount of N$13.36, as introduced in 2013. Workers can expect another 10% increase this year, according to the agreement signed between the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers’ Union (Manwu), Construction Industries’ Federation (CIF) of Namibia and the Office of the Labour Commissioner. The collective agreement was signed in June last year, meaning construction workers can expect to earn about N$2 200 at month-end. Speaking to Nampa yesterday, the secretary-general of Manwu, Justina Jonas-Emvula, who had been pressuring the ministry to gazette the agreement, said the union was happy that the agreement was now law. “Now all employers in the construction industry are expected to pay according to the agreement. A few of them have already been paying accordingly but most of them were waiting for the official gazetting.” It was agreed that the minimum wage for all employees in the bargaining unit be increased by 10% in 2015 and another 10% in 2016. The parties further agreed to adjust service allowances from 144 hours to 150 hours, meaning workers would be paid equal to 150 hours of their monthly wage as part of their remuneration in December each year. The allowance will be calculated pro-rata for each fully worked month that the employee was in service during that specific year. Should an employee resign or their contract be terminated before the end of the year, a pro-rata payment will be due to them. The agreement affects all construction workers in the country, regardless of whether they are members of Manwu. The Manwu secretary-general stated that employers who failed to pay their workers the new wages since June last year would be required to provide back-pay to such workers. NAMPA