Wage increase for domestic workers
The labour ministry has announced a 1% increase in the minimum wage for domestic workers, with effect from 1 October.
In total the wage increase is 4.5%, taking into account the average increase in inflation of 3.15% on basic items which was added.
Permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja explained that the 1% increase would be additional to the average inflation rate on basic items that will be published in the Government Gazette this month.
Therefore, effective 1 October the minimum wage for full-time domestic workers has increased to N$1 564.39 per month.
A full-time domestic worker must now earn at least N$361.29 per week, N$72.25 per day and N$9.03 per hour.
The new minimum wage for part-time domestic workers who work five hours or less on any day other than a Sunday or public holiday is N$45.15 per day.
As stipulated in the Labour Act, all employees who work overtime are entitled to overtime pay. The minimum overtime pay for domestic workers is N$13.54 per hour. Those who work on Sundays and public holidays must be paid N$18.06 per hour, or N$90.30 per day for those who work five hours or less.
Shinguadja said the annual inflation rates as published by the Namibian Statistics Agency for the preceding 12 months were 2.5% for food and alcoholic beverages and 3.8% for housing, water and electricity and gas. The average inflation rate for the two categories was therefore 3.15%.
“All employers of domestic workers are hereby urged and directed to remunerate their workers in accordance with the prescribed wage or more, but no less than the set minimum wage.
“Employers are further reminded to register or renew their registrations as employers of domestic workers with the ministry,” said Shinguadja.
This registration requirement came in force last year and is renewable annually.
ELLANIE SMIT
In total the wage increase is 4.5%, taking into account the average increase in inflation of 3.15% on basic items which was added.
Permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja explained that the 1% increase would be additional to the average inflation rate on basic items that will be published in the Government Gazette this month.
Therefore, effective 1 October the minimum wage for full-time domestic workers has increased to N$1 564.39 per month.
A full-time domestic worker must now earn at least N$361.29 per week, N$72.25 per day and N$9.03 per hour.
The new minimum wage for part-time domestic workers who work five hours or less on any day other than a Sunday or public holiday is N$45.15 per day.
As stipulated in the Labour Act, all employees who work overtime are entitled to overtime pay. The minimum overtime pay for domestic workers is N$13.54 per hour. Those who work on Sundays and public holidays must be paid N$18.06 per hour, or N$90.30 per day for those who work five hours or less.
Shinguadja said the annual inflation rates as published by the Namibian Statistics Agency for the preceding 12 months were 2.5% for food and alcoholic beverages and 3.8% for housing, water and electricity and gas. The average inflation rate for the two categories was therefore 3.15%.
“All employers of domestic workers are hereby urged and directed to remunerate their workers in accordance with the prescribed wage or more, but no less than the set minimum wage.
“Employers are further reminded to register or renew their registrations as employers of domestic workers with the ministry,” said Shinguadja.
This registration requirement came in force last year and is renewable annually.
ELLANIE SMIT
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