Obrein Simasiku
Civil servants will receive the arrears of the revised salaries, housing and transport allowance on a new notch at the end of October, while the accumulated back pay will come in November.
This comes following a settlement agreement between Government’s Negotiating Team and the employees bargaining units, Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) and Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) in August, in which a N$924 million was set aside for the benefits and salaries of the more than 100 000 civil servants.
The adjustment which came as a result of protracted wage negotiations between the parties escalated to a near national strike, but was fortunately averted through a last minute resolution from the government after having persistently refusing to accord any increment. Government had cited lack of finances and the underperforming economy as the basis of the NO increase stance.
After smelling the strike, the government had no choice but to scrape its coffers and offer the bare minimum it could.
As a result salaries were adjusted by 3%, housing allowance 11% and Transport 14%.
“Take note that the Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the Office of the Prime Minister will effect appropriate changes directly on the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS),” said Cabinet Secretary George Simataa, in reference to the payment of the adjustments.
