Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

LaRRi to Zero In on Domestics

Home Archived LaRRi to Zero In on Domestics

By Wezi Tjaronda

WINDHOEK

The Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRi) has embarked on a study that will give insight into the working and living conditions of domestic workers in Namibia.

Domestic workers are among the most vulnerable and marginalised workers who according to LaRRI Director, Hilma Shindondola, are not treated with the dignity and respect they so deserve.

Domestic workers are also lowly remunerated, with the lowest full time employee being paid between N$200 and N$300 per month, while the highest paid gets up to N$1 500 per month.

Field research for the study, a project of LaRRI in conjunction with the Namibia Farm Workers Union (NAFWU), is expected to start on Monday, June 25.

Announcing the study yesterday, Shindondola said little is known about the size, needs and challenges that the workers face due to among others, the collapse of the structures of the Namibia Domestic Workers Union (NDAWU) and a lack of recent research.

The study will look at an overview of the current situation, the extent to which domestics are organised and their desire to be unionised, solicit views on the establishment of a minimum wage, the availability of benefits such as housing, medical aid and pension, their income and expenditure and general experiences between workers.

The other issues that form part of the study are the relations between workers and employers, the general working conditions and the need for skills development.

The results of the study, expected at the end of 2007, will be used for a campaign to create awareness on the lives of domestic workers and also make recommendations to the government, which may be used for the finalisation of the New Labour Act.

Due to the low wages that most domestic workers get, the results will also be used to push for the betterment of their conditions.

Realising the private nature of domestic work, LaRRI appealed to traditional authorities, authorities, employers and domestic workers to fully cooperate with the field workers for them to gather good and reliable data. For identification, the field researchers will have a nametag on which LaRRI’s logo and contact details are imprinted. Although the 2004 Labour Force Survey found that Namibia has approximately 24 000 household employees, the figure may not be a true reflection of the actual number of workers because private households are not easily accessible to researchers and also because of the private nature of domestic work, which makes it difficult to organise them.

Additionally, many people from neighbouring countries, namely Angola, Zimbabwe and Zambia have entered Namibia and are doing domestic work due to the economic conditions in their countries.

The study will cover the northern central regions, Caprivi, Kavango, Otjozondjupa, Erongo, Karas and Omaheke.