New minimum wages for security, domestic, and agricultural workers came into effect on 1 January.
“The government calls on all employers to comply with the national minimum wage and treat workers fairly,” the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations says in a statement released last week.
The ministry laid out the wage increases in a series of announcements on social media over the weekend.
Security workers will earn N$16 per hour, an increase of N$2.50, domestic workers will earn N$15 per hour, an increase of N$3, and agricultural workers will earn N$14 per hour, an increase of N$4 from 2025’s wages.
“The increase is very nice.
The problem is that transport costs are also increasing,” says Moses Hashiti, a security guard in Windhoek.
He says his employer has not yet communicated with him about increasing his pay next month.
Security Association of Namibia (SAN) president Kuume Uutaapama says the increase is long overdue.
“We believe all Namibians need to be compensated so they can afford the basics and improve their living conditions,” he says.
Uutaapama also expects compliance with the law to be an issue.
He says there are security companies that ignore minimum wage requirements to offer clients cheaper services, undercutting security companies who obey the law.
“I encourage all companies to be policing each other and report those companies that are exploiting employees,” Uutaapama says.
Security, domestic, and agricultural workers are scheduled to receive further increases in 2027 to ensure workers across all sectors receive N$18 per hour.
For all other sectors, the minimum wage of N$18 established by the wage order will remain the same for 2026 and 2027.
The new wages are unchanged from the national minimum wage order amendment announced in January 2025.
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