Windhoek
The Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) is at an advanced stage of concluding negotiations with the Treasury
to change the end of year pay date of teachers for them to get their salary on December 20, unlike the current situation whereby they get compensated earlier, which apparently puts them at a disadvantage.
Over the years teachers have been receiving their December salary immediately when school closes, a situation
many raised concern about, and have been calling on their union to negotiate with government to have them paid on
the 20th, as is the case with the other months of the year.
They argue paying them earlier puts them at a disadvantage because by Christmas time and the new year they have already spent their wages. Last year the teachers got paid on December 4.
They say getting paid early forces them to approach loan sharks for a bailout over the festive season. Nantu secretary general Basilius Haingura yesterday told New Era that the union received numerous complaints about the pay date during the December holidays.
He revealed that the matter “is receiving the attention it deserves”. “We took up the issue already. It is resolved, it’s a just a matter of communicating with the ministry of finance. They were supposed to get their salaries on the 20th December last year, but the ministry was a bit reluctant. During our meeting this month we are going to check on the
progress by the ministry of finance,” he said.
He said the early payment of teachers during December “is more a historical thing”. Haingura explained the idea
originated with teachers who were previously doing in-service training. “The in-service training prompted the ministry to pay teachers early when they closed so that they could pay for their studies.” Nantu has more 15 000
members countrywide.