Govt, unions in new civil service wage deal

GOVERNMENT and trade unions yesterday agreed to introduce a housing allowance for civil servants below management level and a bonus cheque for the top management.

Under the new agreement, staff members living in official quarters or assigned accommodation free of charge do not qualify for the new housing scheme that comes into effect with the new financial year. It will mean that from the end of April, civil servants who earn up to N$36 000 a year will get an additional N$100 a month, while those earning up to N$91 968 a year will get N$250 a month.Those civil servants who earn up to N$257 289 a year will get an extra N$400 a month under the new scheme that was agreed by the Government, Namibia National Teachers’ Union and the Namibia Public Workers’ Union.The three parties also agreed on a five per cent across-the-board salary increase for all civil servants, but that will only be implemented from April 2008.Under the agreement, Government employees who use their private vehicles to travel on official trips will get N$1 per kilometre – increased from 68 cents per kilometre.There was also a good message for managers whose 13th cheque had been suspended some time ago.Only lower-paid civil servants continued to receive the bonus and the unions viewed the action as discriminatory.It was decided to reintroduce it in the new financial year.Civil servants who benefit through the homeowners’ scheme for staff members (HOSSM) also received good news under the new agreement.The bargaining agents and the Government agreed to increase the maximum qualifying amount for staff members below management level from N$200 700 to N$300 000 because of the drastic increase in the cost of houses.From next year, a transport allowance will be introduced for civil servants below management level and the issuing of bus tickets will be abandoned.Those who earn up to N$36 000 a year will get an allowance of N$10 per day, while those who earn up to N$170 724 will get N$9 per day.The car allowance for managers will be increased by five per cent because the current one was introduced five years ago.The agreement was signed by Cabinet Secretary Frans Kapofi, Nantu’s Miriam Hamutenya and Napwu’s Peter Nevonga.It will mean that from the end of April, civil servants who earn up to N$36 000 a year will get an additional N$100 a month, while those earning up to N$91 968 a year will get N$250 a month.Those civil servants who earn up to N$257 289 a year will get an extra N$400 a month under the new scheme that was agreed by the Government, Namibia National Teachers’ Union and the Namibia Public Workers’ Union.The three parties also agreed on a five per cent across-the-board salary increase for all civil servants, but that will only be implemented from April 2008.Under the agreement, Government employees who use their private vehicles to travel on official trips will get N$1 per kilometre – increased from 68 cents per kilometre.There was also a good message for managers whose 13th cheque had been suspended some time ago.Only lower-paid civil servants continued to receive the bonus and the unions viewed the action as discriminatory.It was decided to reintroduce it in the new financial year.Civil servants who benefit through the homeowners’ scheme for staff members (HOSSM) also received good news under the new agreement.The bargaining agents and the Government agreed to increase the maximum qualifying amount for staff members below management level from N$200 700 to N$300 000 because of the drastic increase in the cost of houses. From next year, a transport allowance will be introduced for civil servants below management level and the issuing of bus tickets will be abandoned.Those who earn up to N$36 000 a year will get an allowance of N$10 per day, while those who earn up to N$170 724 will get N$9 per day.The car allowance for managers will be increased by five per cent because the current one was introduced five years ago.The agreement was signed by Cabinet Secretary Frans Kapofi, Nantu’s Miriam Hamutenya and Napwu’s Peter Nevonga.