Domestic workers to demand better deal

THE Namibia Domestic and Allied Workers Union (Ndawu) claims employers have reduced the number of working days per week of their workers to evade their responsibilities under the Social Security Act.

Alfred Angula, speaking on behalf of Ndawu, said exploitation of domestic workers continued unabated in the country with employers having cut the income of their employees through reduced working days. More than five years ago a key report called for the introduction of a minimum wage for domestic workers in Namibia.The Namibian has established reliably that a minimum wage comparable to that of farmworkers is in the pipeline.Angula said the activities of Ndawu had been moved to the offices of the Namibia Farmworkers Union (Nafwu).The union recently undertook a trip to Tsumeb and Swakopmund to do a survey on domestic workers and also to raise awareness about their plight.Similar visits where planned for other parts of Namibia.Angula called on the Government to amend the Social Security Act so that all ‘permanent’ domestic workers, regardless of days worked on a week, could be registered.”Given the fact that workers in this sector have suffered for far too long, the union, in line with a recommendation of the Kameeta Commission, calls for the establishment of a special fund for these employees.Such a fund could be used for the development of workers in this sector as well as their dependants,” Angula said.In 1999, the Commission of Inquiry into Labour-Related Matters Affecting Farm and Domestic Workers issued several recommendations aimed at transforming the working conditions of both farm and domestic workers.A minimum wage of N$429 has since been introduced for farmworkers.However, the fate of more than 25 000 domestic workers throughout Namibia has remained unclear.Yesterday, Angula could only call on the Government to introduce the minimum wage for domestic workers.More than five years ago a key report called for the introduction of a minimum wage for domestic workers in Namibia.The Namibian has established reliably that a minimum wage comparable to that of farmworkers is in the pipeline.Angula said the activities of Ndawu had been moved to the offices of the Namibia Farmworkers Union (Nafwu).The union recently undertook a trip to Tsumeb and Swakopmund to do a survey on domestic workers and also to raise awareness about their plight.Similar visits where planned for other parts of Namibia.Angula called on the Government to amend the Social Security Act so that all ‘permanent’ domestic workers, regardless of days worked on a week, could be registered.”Given the fact that workers in this sector have suffered for far too long, the union, in line with a recommendation of the Kameeta Commission, calls for the establishment of a special fund for these employees.Such a fund could be used for the development of workers in this sector as well as their dependants,” Angula said.In 1999, the Commission of Inquiry into Labour-Related Matters Affecting Farm and Domestic Workers issued several recommendations aimed at transforming the working conditions of both farm and domestic workers.A minimum wage of N$429 has since been introduced for farmworkers.However, the fate of more than 25 000 domestic workers throughout Namibia has remained unclear.Yesterday, Angula could only call on the Government to introduce the minimum wage for domestic workers.