Civil servants told about pay hikes after deal sealed

IS there any point in discussing a recent salary and wages agreement that was signed between Government, the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) and the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) when the agreement had already been approved by the three parties? This question was raised by a Napwu member at a meeting in Windhoek on Tuesday.

The employee felt that unless Napwu members could make some changes to the agreement, it was unnecessary to discuss the document of the agreement, as things had already been finalised. However, Napwu Secretary General Peter Nevonga disagreed, explaining that when a decision has been made by unions, it affects members and they need to know how the union arrived at it.On Tuesday, Nevonga discussed the agreement with about 250 civil servants who are Napwu members.A push-and-pull nearly erupted just before Nevonga arrived, when a Napwu official told the gathering that if there were people in the gathering who were not paid-up Napwu members, they should leave the hall.Some women sitting in the front seats objected, saying all Napwu members were fighting for a common cause, whether paid-up or not.”We were invited to this meeting,” said one woman.According to Nevonga, the union had scored a victory by convincing Government to increase civil servants’ salaries and grant them housing and transport allowances.Nevonga said housing allowances were classified in three categories.”We looked at how people live.Although some people do no have houses to get a housing subsidy, they have where they sleep and do pay for it,” he said.He said it was decided that people who earn a maximum of N$36 000 a year would get a housing allowance of nine per cent, those who earn N$37 000 to N$91 968 000 a year would get eight per cent while those who earn N$95 000 to N$257 000 were given five per cent.This means that from this month, civil servants in the first category will get an additional N$100 a month, the second category N$250 and those in the third category will get N$400 under the agreement.The increase is only for civil servants below management level.Those in top management saw the reintroduction of their 13th cheque, which was suspended some time ago.From next year, transport allowances will be introduced for civil servants below management level and the issuing of bus tickets will be done away with.Civil servants earning up to N$36 000 a year will get a N$10 allowance per day while those who earn up to N$170 724 will get N$9 per day.The agreement was signed by Cabinet Secretary Frans Kapofi, Nantu’s Miriam Hamutenya and Napwu’s Nevonga in Windhoek last month.However, Napwu Secretary General Peter Nevonga disagreed, explaining that when a decision has been made by unions, it affects members and they need to know how the union arrived at it.On Tuesday, Nevonga discussed the agreement with about 250 civil servants who are Napwu members.A push-and-pull nearly erupted just before Nevonga arrived, when a Napwu official told the gathering that if there were people in the gathering who were not paid-up Napwu members, they should leave the hall.Some women sitting in the front seats objected, saying all Napwu members were fighting for a common cause, whether paid-up or not.”We were invited to this meeting,” said one woman.According to Nevonga, the union had scored a victory by convincing Government to increase civil servants’ salaries and grant them housing and transport allowances.Nevonga said housing allowances were classified in three categories.”We looked at how people live.Although some people do no have houses to get a housing subsidy, they have where they sleep and do pay for it,” he said.He said it was decided that people who earn a maximum of N$36 000 a year would get a housing allowance of nine per cent, those who earn N$37 000 to N$91 968 000 a year would get eight per cent while those who earn N$95 000 to N$257 000 were given five per cent.This means that from this month, civil servants in the first category will get an additional N$100 a month, the second category N$250 and those in the third category will get N$400 under the agreement.The increase is only for civil servants below management level.Those in top management saw the reintroduction of their 13th cheque, which was suspended some time ago.From next year, transport allowances will be introduced for civil servants below management level and the issuing of bus tickets will be done away with.Civil servants earning up to N$36 000 a year will get a N$10 allowance per day while those who earn up to N$170 724 will get N$9 per day.The agreement was signed by Cabinet Secretary Frans Kapofi, Nantu’s Miriam Hamutenya and Napwu’s Nevonga in Windhoek last month.