LUDERITZ: Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Immanuel Ngatjizeko says the proposed minimum wage for security guards will be gazetted in September.
This means the minimum wage for security guards will increase from the current N.dollars 3,80 to N.dollars 5 an hour.
The Security Association of Namibia (SAN), the Namibia Security Guards and Watchmen Union (NASGWU) and the Namibia Independent Security Union (NISU) concluded an agreement on the minimum wage increment with the Labour Ministry in June this year.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with labour unions in Lüderitz here on Saturday, Ngatjizeko said after receiving a report that there were no objections to the increase, the ministry is preparing to gazette the minimum wage so that it can be implemented.
“We gave employers a chance to submit their objections on the wage increase before 06 August. There were however no objections, so the agreement will be gazetted and implemented,” he said.
The Labour Minister stated that a lot of people misunderstood the agreement, as they were under the impression that the new minimum wage would be implemented immediately after the signing of the agreement.
He however explained that security companies will only start paying the new minimum wage after the agreement is gazetted.
Further addressing attendees at the meeting, he said there is a serious need for a wage commission to be established for the fishing industry as employees in the industry are allegedly not paid well and are being exploited.
“This is a serious concern, not only for the unions but also for Government because people work, but remain poor. If we have a wage commission and the minimum wages are declared, then we can punish those who will refuse to pay,” he said.
Ngatjizeko added that another sector in need of such intervention is the retail sector.
By way of example, he explained how his ministry is currently busy researching the working conditions of domestic workers in order for their wages to be regulated, after a wage commission was inaugurated in May.
“By February next year we will be able to declare a minimum wage for all domestic workers in the country,” the minister promised.