Farmworkers’ wages improve

ELLANIE SMIT WINDHOEKThe total remuneration package for farmworkers in Namibia’s commercial agriculture sector has more than doubled over the past 16 years.In 2020, commercial farmworkers received a total remuneration package of N$3 660, in comparison to the N$1 454 they were paid monthly in 2004.On average, there are 8.82 employees per employer on commercial farms in Namibia.The Wage Survey Report, published by the Agricultural Employers’ Association, represents 5 340 farmworkers, of which 4382 are permanently employed.A remuneration package is made up of a cash wage, a cash allowance, dry rations, wet rations and other farm-produced foods as well as housing, livestock and transport.For 2020, the monetary component of farmworkers’ remuneration made up 65%, while the non-monetary component was 35% of an employee’s total remuneration package.10% increaseThe average basic monthly remuneration of permanent employees on commercial farms amounted to N$ 2 367 in the 2019/2020 financial period.This represents an increase of 10% compared to the 2018 survey. Of this amount, the monthly cash salary is, on average, N$1 754, while the value of the rations is N$613.According to the report, while the current minimum wage agreement sets N$4.62 as the basic cash wage per hour for a general farmworker, the survey indicates that on average, general farmworkers received N$9.31 per hour in 2019/2020.Alcohol, substance abuseMeanwhile, the report said 36.82% of farmers reported cases of alcohol and substance abuse amongst employees within the reporting period.There has also been an increase of farmworkers being dismissed for the abuse of alcohol since 2016 - from 3.8% to 6.3%.Most of the terminations of jobs are employee-driven and mainly consist of resignations and workplace desertion, with 46.78% of all job terminations during the 2019/2020 financial year being due to dismissals.Only 28 (3.92%) of employees whose services were terminated were retrenched, despite the devastating drought encountered during most of the reporting period, said the report.The main reasons for dismissals included absconding, alcohol abuse,theft, unauthorised absenteeism, poor work performance and dishonesty. Theft decreasesTheft by farmworkers decreased since 2016 from 19.1% to 5.2%.According to the survey, a total of 714 farmworkers left their place of work within the survey period. This figure represents 13.37% of all employees in the survey, in comparison with 11.71% in the 2018 survey.Farmers also indicated that there is a total of 4 106 employee houses on the land where they conduct their farming activities, of which 44.74% of the houses have own wash- and toilet facilities, while there are also shared ablution blocks available for the rest.The average valuation price of a typical farmworker’s house with shower, toilet and covered veranda is approximately N$3 400 per square metre.Meanwhile, a total of 60.58% of employee households in the survey have access to electricity in their homes and 25.07% employee households have access to solar power.“These figures increased significantly compared to the 2018 wage survey where only 69.91% of households had access to electricity and 25.87% access to solar power,” according to the report.A total of 89.55% employers indicated that their employees received annual bonuses and 80.43% employers indicated that their employees received annual salary increases.Injuries increaseThere was also an increase in injuries on duty compared to the previous wage report.A total of 10.7% of employers reported 102 injuries on duty, in comparison to 38 in 2018.Only 379 of the 4 382 permanent employees in this survey are members of a registered workers’ union, which brings the union representation of farmworkers to 8.65%.

Farmworkers’ wages improve

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-15

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Farmworkers’ wages improve

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-15

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