Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) Secretary General Matheus Haakuria said government has drastically failed civil servants with its decision not to increase salaries, despite the extreme rising cost of living.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, Haakuria stressed that civil servants have not received an increment for the past six years despite the cost of living having risen and life becoming hard for many due to finances.

During the mid-term budget review on 03 November 2021 Minister of Finance Iipumbu Shiimi announced that civil servants would not be getting salary increases any time soon, noting that Namibia is still in economic misery and the limited fiscal space means there are not sufficient funds for increments for civil servants.

“The average civil servant supports three to four people therefore an increase in their salaries will go a long way in alleviating many ills currently experienced by the citizens. We believe in a wage led growth as it reduces inequality, poverty eradication and it leads to demand growth and productivity,” he explained.

Haakuria noted that it is time for government and unions to engage in real negotiations to avoid industrial action from civil servants, similar to that of the 2012 illegal strike by teachers which forced government to act.

He indicated that the tabled budget for 2021/22 as well as the recent additional budget does not contain any provision for salary increment.

“The government and the bargaining unions, the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) and Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) have engaged in ‘mock negotiations’ for the past years, this mockery has to stop as the reality is that people are fed up and they will soon take matters into their hands,” he fumed.

In negotiations that started on 25 February 2021 the bargaining unions, Nantu and Napwu proposed for 10 per cent increase in salaries, 10 per cent in transport allowances below management level; nine per cent in housing allowance, 25 per cent in the qualifying amount for housing subsidies, as well as a N.dollars 7 per kilometre tariff increase.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency