Minimum wage in the construction sector

STAFF REPORTERThe collective agreement as has been negotiated between the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) and Metal and Allied Workers Union (MANWU), and signed on 28 May 2021, has now been published in Government Gazette No. 7675 of 2 November 2021. This makes the conditions as stipulated in the Collective Agreement applicable and mandatory for everyone operating in the sector. The collective agreement becomes effective on the date of promulgation. The most significant change was the increase in the minimum wage payable, which is 2.6% for the first year, and 2.6% for the second year. This increase comes at the time, when there had been no increase since 2018. The basis of the increase for the respective categories are the minimum wages as had been determined in the Government Gazette No. 6567, dated 11 April 2018. The current minimum wage payable in the industry as per Government Gazette 7675 is therefore N$17.38 per hour. Other benefits for employees in the sector, as per the employment categories listed in the collective agreement, include a service allowance equal to 150 hours of his or her wage, which is to be paid as part of the December remuneration before the commencement of annual leave during December.It is also mandatory that all employees, for whom minimum wages payable are prescribed as per the agreement, are registered by the employer with the Namibian Building Workers Pension Fund (NBWPF). Alternatively, employers can offer pension and retirement benefits that provide for the same as the NBWPF, or indeed better benefits. Bärbel Kirchner, general manager of the CIF says: “We are happy that our negotiated collective agreement for the construction sector has now been gazetted. This will ensure that there is a level-playing field with regard to wages in our sector; it will minimise the impact of labour costs as a differentiating factor when bidding for contracts.”“We believe that the increase is within reason considering the current economic environment. It would simply make no sense to increase the minimum wage payable beyond the negotiated level, if employers cannot longer afford an increase. There is a fine line to consider, where an increase can improve the livelihood of one, yet might lead to the retrenchment of another. From the CIF’s perspective, we feel, that at current times, we need to ensure that as many persons possible remain employed. Therefore, we think that since there had been no increase since 2018, that a 2.6% increase, is reasonable”. Regulation Conditions for both the employer and the employee will improve once the industry has been regulated through the establishment of a construction council and every effort has been made to optimise the procurement system in favour of maximum engagement of Namibian resources. “Our sector has seen large-scale retrenchments, yet with strategic intent by our government and united, deliberate and conscious efforts, we can work towards a turnaround and improve the performance of our sector to the benefit of our businesses and employees”. Justina Jonas Emvula, secretary general of MANWU says: “The construction sector since 2016, has been really under pressure, the workers persist to feel financial pressure as prices of basic needs, such as food, petrol, continue increasing. Since 2018, no increasement has been given to the workers, and looking at the situation of the pandemic we are in now, this increasement is accepted by the workers with the view that it can make a difference even though it may not address all the workers’ needs.“It is our view that, the construction sector has potential to grow. We believe that the sector has full capacity to perform any kind of work available. The limitation of not awarding projects to local contractors is increasing high unemployment and precarious work in the sector. Therefore, our government and private sector clients, should listen to us and start prioritising local contractors to boost our local economy.”“We therefore calling all contractors and their employees to collectively work together, we understand the frustration of lack of jobs or jobs which are not sustainable, but this increase will make a difference, while we are busy to engage those in power to start prioritising local contractors and the immediate implementation of the Construction Council”.

Minimum wage in the construction sector

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

Please login to leave a comment

Minimum wage in the construction sector

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

Please login to leave a comment

Login