WINDHOEK – Roads Authority (RA) employees were all smiles yesterday when the company signed a new wage agreement with the Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) that will see them receive a six percent increase for basic salary, six percent increase for housing allowance and six percent increase for transport allowance. In addition, the RA Board of Directors has approved a six percent salary increase on total cost to employer for all those on management level. 

The increments will be backdated to April 1, 2018, and will be implemented during the September payroll. 
“Our negotiation teams realise that they need to make sure the chicken continues laying the egg,” said RA CEO, Conrad Lutombi who noted that the union started their demands at 12 percent. Lutombi however congratulated the negotiation teams for coming to an agreement, which is beneficial to both parties. “The mutual agreement is a demonstration of the good relations and common objectives that exist between Roads Authority and NAPWU. Believe me, our common agreement is the envy of many,” he said during yesterday’s signing ceremony with the union. 

Lutombi added that the negotiating parties are cognisant of the fact that the RA is a non-profit making organisation hence its remuneration levels are equated to that. “Of significant importance is the fact that the parties recognised the need to contain the labour costs in an effort to ensure long-term employment sustainability of the Roads Authority, bearing in mind that our core function is road infrastructure development and maintenance of our road network,” said Lutombi. 

Speaking on behalf of NAPWU, Deputy Secretary General, Gabes Andumba, congratulated the negotiating teams for a job well done and encouraged them to always endeavour for amicable solutions to avoid third party involvement and unnecessary labour confrontation, which he called counter-productive. “NAPWU is totally devoted to the improvement of the benefit and the condition of service of our members through a collective bargaining process as provided for in our agreement, labour laws and the Namibian Constitution,” said Andumba.