Employees through their representative unions have highlighted transport and housing as very important aspects to consider in determining the national minimum wage.

During a public hearing here on Tuesday, Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) coordinator for the western region, Johannes Shayuka in his presentation to the Wage Commission stressed that most employees in the fishing, retail and tourism sectors struggle to get to work.

“These employees are suffering since they are not provided with transport to and from work and need this included in the wage agreements,” Shayuka said.

Tourism and hospitality as well as retail are some of the most difficult sectors, where some employees get a salary of less than N.dollars 1 500 per month. However this is the purpose of the union, to bargain on better wages for employees for the benefit of both employee and employer.

NAFAU proposed an hourly rate of N.dollars 27.78, which translates to a N.dollars 5 000 monthly salary, while an hourly rate of N.dollars 33.34, which amounts to N.dollars 6 000 per month, was proposed for retail employees.

“The fishing industry is one of the richest industries in Namibia but their salary scale is also one of the lowest compared to other industries,” he said.

Shayuka compared the fishing and mining industries, stating that the two are also the same when it comes to contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

The union therefore proposed monthly rates ranging between N.dollars 7 000 for factory workers to N.dollars 15 000 for seagoing personnel on hake vessels.

Meanwhile, Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) western region coordinator Richard Kayimbi said the most common motivation for introduction of minimum wage is to ensure wages meet the needs of workers and their families.

“Ordinary hours must be calculated as per the provision under section 15-18 of the Labour Act of 2007. Additionally, all the employers must be required to provide a written contract of employment with their employees,” he noted.

Kayimbi believes that the proposed minimum wage will not entirely solve the employees’ needs but would be able to substantially mitigate the impact of the challenges they are confronted with.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency