Pay rise for domestics
From 1 October the minimum pay for domestic workers will be N$1 502 per month.
A new mandatory minimum wage for domestic workers will come into effect on 1 October 2017.
Also, employers of domestic workers are urged to register with the labour ministry by no later than 30 November.
These developments were announced yesterday by the permanent secretary in the labour ministry, Bro-Matthew Shinguadja.
Effective 1 October, the new minimum wage for domestic workers will be N$1502.05 on a monthly basis, N$346.89 on a weekly basis, N$69.37 on a daily basis and N$8.67 on an hourly basis.
The daily rate for part-time domestic workers who work for five hours or less will be N$43.35.
According to Shinguadja, the increases are based on the ordinary eight working hours per day and 40 working hours per week applicable to domestic workers.
The adjustment was also done with the annual inflation rate in mind, Shinguadja added, saying factors affecting the living standard of domestic workers were taken into consideration.
“It is of utmost importance to inform the public that the new minimum wage was decided upon after considering the social factors and the 2016 annual inflation rates on food, non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, which are considered as most pertinent to the domestic workers,” he said.
Part-time domestic workers would be guaranteed a minimum payment of wages equivalent to five working hours in a day.
Shinguadja acknowledged that while the wage was not sufficient, it was a means to ensure a decent standard of living for domestic workers.
“The minimum wage does not constitute a living wage that will ensure a decent standard of living, it is a bare minimum,” he said.
According to him, the raise was necessitated by the poor working conditions domestic workers often had to contend with.
“Vulnerable workers, including domestic workers, are traditionally subjected to exploitative practices such as extended working hours without lunch breaks or rest periods, unpaid annual and sick leave, non-registration with relevant authorities such as the Social Security Commission and sometimes without written contracts,” said Shinguadja.
Employers are now required to provide a written employment contract to a domestic worker employed to relieve another domestic worker.
OGONE TLHAGE
Also, employers of domestic workers are urged to register with the labour ministry by no later than 30 November.
These developments were announced yesterday by the permanent secretary in the labour ministry, Bro-Matthew Shinguadja.
Effective 1 October, the new minimum wage for domestic workers will be N$1502.05 on a monthly basis, N$346.89 on a weekly basis, N$69.37 on a daily basis and N$8.67 on an hourly basis.
The daily rate for part-time domestic workers who work for five hours or less will be N$43.35.
According to Shinguadja, the increases are based on the ordinary eight working hours per day and 40 working hours per week applicable to domestic workers.
The adjustment was also done with the annual inflation rate in mind, Shinguadja added, saying factors affecting the living standard of domestic workers were taken into consideration.
“It is of utmost importance to inform the public that the new minimum wage was decided upon after considering the social factors and the 2016 annual inflation rates on food, non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, which are considered as most pertinent to the domestic workers,” he said.
Part-time domestic workers would be guaranteed a minimum payment of wages equivalent to five working hours in a day.
Shinguadja acknowledged that while the wage was not sufficient, it was a means to ensure a decent standard of living for domestic workers.
“The minimum wage does not constitute a living wage that will ensure a decent standard of living, it is a bare minimum,” he said.
According to him, the raise was necessitated by the poor working conditions domestic workers often had to contend with.
“Vulnerable workers, including domestic workers, are traditionally subjected to exploitative practices such as extended working hours without lunch breaks or rest periods, unpaid annual and sick leave, non-registration with relevant authorities such as the Social Security Commission and sometimes without written contracts,” said Shinguadja.
Employers are now required to provide a written employment contract to a domestic worker employed to relieve another domestic worker.
OGONE TLHAGE
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article