Easy access at the tip of your fingers, subscribe to our daily ePaper version of our New Era Newspaper.
Home / CIF and Manwu disagree on future minimum wage increase
CIF and Manwu disagree on future minimum wage increase
2017-09-22Staff Report 2 Staff Reporter Windhoek-Negotiations to determine the increase in minimum wages and minimum employment conditions for the Namibian construction sector have reached a deadlock. In response to demands received from the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu), the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) had engaged its members to receive a mandate to determine the future minimum wage increase and future minimum employment conditions for selected job categories in the construction sector. As from January 1, 2017, the gazetted minimum wage in the construction sector is N$16.04 per hour, which is the result of two big increases of 10 percent each on the minimum wage of N$13.26 in 2014/2015, and the minimum wage of N$14.59 in 2016. Manwu however demands a minimum wage increase of 13 percent for 2017/2018 and a further increase of 13 percent for 2018/2019. In addition, demands listed by the union include an increase of minimum employment conditions, which – if agreed – would be new additions to the collective agreement, and according to Bärbel Kirchner, consulting general manager at CIF, this would have serious cost implications for the employer. The total of Manwu’s initial demands constituted an increase of over 70 percent. These demands included, inter alia, a housing allowance, a meal allowance, a transport allowance, an extension of the statutory maternity leave of 12 weeks to 14 weeks for the industry and negotiating with Nam-mic for loans for employees. With regard to the minimum wage increase, the CIF, representing employers in the construction sector, feels it would be irresponsible to increase the minimum wages during the current economic downturn, in particular as the construction sector is hit the hardest and the entire supply chain is experiencing large-scale retrenchments, and as it is not clear when the economy and specifically the construction sector will revive. “According to research conducted by the CIF in June 2017, 47 percent of employees in the industry have lost their jobs. The situation is likely to have worsened since then. Yet, despite large-scale retrenchments since September 2016, the CIF, for now, very reluctantly made an offer of an increase of 2.5 percent on the minimum wage, in response to the outrageous demands of the 13 percent by Manwu and their very extensive list of demands,” said Kirchner. “In fact, since we have commenced with the negotiations, the situation has worsened. We started negotiating in April 2017 when we had made an offer of a minimum wage increase of 2.5 percent when a new agreement would be promulgated. The situation is far less hopeful now than it was in April.” “However, in order to honour what already had been agreed and in order to keep negotiating in good faith, we have not retracted that offer,” she added. “Moreover, it is important to note, any increase would only become relevant once a collective agreement is promulgated in the government gazette. The industry is also adamant that any agreed increase would not be back-dated.” “We are very disappointed that our industry, in addition, is now also facing such demands from Manwu, who are representing workers in the industry. Revenues in the industry are extremely low, if not non-existent. Many employers keep their teams employed with the hope of work and projects in the near future. “If minimum wages were to increase even further, then many will not be able to continue keeping members of their teams employed. It can have devastating effects, especially if you think, that eight dependants will be affected for every job that will be lost. Many SMEs in our sector will also be badly affected,” she continued. “It simply must be in everybody’s interest to keep as many people employed and not to hike the increase of only a few remaining employees. We must remember, what we are negotiating is the minimum wage increase for the respective categories for semi-skilled and artisans for the entire industry. If we are to concede to the demands of Manwu, it is likely that many workers will lose their jobs.” Under current economic conditions, the CIF feels it is more realistic to agree to demands that are for the larger construction businesses, such as provision of drinking water and separate toilets for male and female employees, and the promotion of health and safety education for employees. As the two parties were not able to move forward, Manwu declared a dispute of interest. After two conciliation meetings at the Labour Commissioner’s Office, a certificate of an unresolved dispute was issued. CIF and Manwu are scheduled to meet today (September 22) to negotiate strike or lockout rules in accordance with the Labour Act, 2007; the Code on Good Practice on Industrial Action, 2009; and the Code of Good Practice on Picketing, 2009; which then will guide both parties with regard to further action. 2017-09-22Staff Report 2
