Agri Today
Farmworkers are pushing for an increase in the minimum wage for their sector, which is currently set at just above the N$1 000 mark. A public hearing conducted by the ministry of labour last week in Gobabis, saw representatives of farmworkers and other role players pleading with the labour commissioners to urgently look into increasing the minimum wage threshold for the sector. The public hearing is part of ongoing work to gauge the views of Namibians on the proposed introduction of national minimum wages in different sectors of the economy.
Matuundju Kavaka, who represented the Namibia Farm Workers Union, said the raising of the current minimum wage for farmworkers would make a huge difference in the lives of many farmworkers who are living in abject poverty.
“The Namibia Farm Workers Union believes that an initial level of N$2 902.50 per month or N$15 per hour is the best level for minimising the danger of job losses while at the same time maximising the potential to pull people out of poverty,” he noted.
He said the Namibian socio-economic story reflects a grim picture, adding that many people in the country live in bad conditions. Sadly, he said, there is a gendered aspect to this picture in that this situation affects many women the worst.
“The current minimum wage agreement for agricultural workers’ entry level is at N$4.62 per hour and we propose for an increase to N$15 per hour, N$15 hourly wage, N$675 weekly wage (N$45 hours/ week), N$2 902.50 monthly wage (4.3 weeks/month).
«We also want farm workers to have a national pension fund for the vulnerable farmworkers and domestic workers, as well as at least N$20 per hour remuneration at the grape industry,” he said.
Several suggestions from the floor on
proposed changes to the current regulations governing wages for farm workers included; calls for part-time and seasonal workers to fall under the same pay rate under the proposed national minimum wage.
The geographical locations of farmworkers to be considered and that the national minimum wage be extended to all corners of the agriculture sector - from small and medium to larger capacity employers and enforcement agencies.
Peka Semba, the director of education in the region said the education sector is struggling financially as many parents cannot afford payments for their children›s hostel fees.
“Some parents, especially the farmworkers, are struggling to pay for their children’s hostel fees, but without an educated nation, we should forget about all the minimum wages. We need to educate people about this so that the hostel or school can be paid in full,” he explained.
Semba said the Wages Commission should look at the payment rate of all types of jobs because employers only value a small percentage of their employees.
“I think the minimum wages are not well enforced by our government. That›s why there is a small percentage in valuing
employees in our society. What is the role of the government then or are we afraid of the employers?” he questioned.
On another note, a speaker at the public hearing, Israel Iilende recommended the establishment of a certain rate for apprenticeship/internship programmes for graduates in Namibia.
“These untrained employees are really suffering because their employers only decide on what to pay them according to the work performed that time or no pay at all. The experience years should be re-looked at according to the field one has studied or is doing,” he said. Iilende further suggested that the stakeholders should be given the power to enforce the current minimum wage agreement and to inspect the situation between the employees and employers.
“If employers are not adhering to the minimum wage agreement law, there should be penalties that should be paid, so that what is implemented in it is fulfilled and well enforced to minimise the complaints from the employees,” he said.
The public hearings on the national minimum wages, which has so far covered seven regions, are expected to be completed by December this year.