Namdeb agreed terms with striking workers, late on Thursday, to end a week long strike. In a joint statement issued by Namdeb and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia, the parties agreed to a 9.5% basic salary increase across the board.
The increase will be backdated to 1 April this year.
The company also agreed to a 14% housing allowance and to increase its contribution towards workers’ medical aid from 60% to 80%, meaning workers will now only be paying 20% contribution unlike 40% in the past.
The wage increases for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 as agreed will be based on the average Namibia Consumer Price Index (NCPI) as provided by the Bank of Namibia plus 1%.
The two parties also agreed that should the NCPI, as provided by the Bank of Namibia, in February of any of the years pertaining to this agreement fall below 4% the company will pay NCPI plus 2% wage increment irrespective of such decline in the NCPI, provided that if the NCPI increases above 9% the increment payable by the company shall not be more than such NCPI rate.
Namdeb chief executive Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi earlier this week said the company was losing about N$10 million a day as a result of the strike.
More than 745 workers participated in the strike that started on Saturday after the two parties reached a deadlock in Friday’s negotiations.
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