NamGem, MUN agree to a 8% wage increase

NAMGEM Diamond Manufacturing Company at Okahandja and the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN) have signed an eight per cent across-the-board salary increase for employees at the diamond cutting and polishing factory.

The increase is backdated to January this year and affects 110 NamGem trainees and full-time staff. Namdeb spokesperson Ailly Hangula-Paulino said negotiations had concentrated on cash packages for the workers, but also included changes to benefits such as housing and transport.Diamond polishers at NamGem earn a basic salary plus a commission on each polished stone, while the trainees only receive an allowance and a commission.Hangula-Paulino said the commission was determined by the size of the polished diamond.She was unable to reveal the scale of the new basic salaries.MUN acting Secretary General Joseph Hengari said the agreement was seen as a benchmark for good relationships between the management of NamGem and employees.NamdebŽs Group Human Resource Manager Percy McCallum echoed the same sentiments.NamGem is a subsidiary of Namdeb and was established in 1995 as a joint venture between the Namibian Government and De Beers.Production started in 1998 when most workers earned around N$450.The workers polish diamonds for the jewellery market.All diamonds are obtained from and re-exported to the Central Selling Organisation (CSO) in London.Namdeb spokesperson Ailly Hangula-Paulino said negotiations had concentrated on cash packages for the workers, but also included changes to benefits such as housing and transport.Diamond polishers at NamGem earn a basic salary plus a commission on each polished stone, while the trainees only receive an allowance and a commission.Hangula-Paulino said the commission was determined by the size of the polished diamond.She was unable to reveal the scale of the new basic salaries.MUN acting Secretary General Joseph Hengari said the agreement was seen as a benchmark for good relationships between the management of NamGem and employees.NamdebŽs Group Human Resource Manager Percy McCallum echoed the same sentiments.NamGem is a subsidiary of Namdeb and was established in 1995 as a joint venture between the Namibian Government and De Beers.Production started in 1998 when most workers earned around N$450.The workers polish diamonds for the jewellery market.All diamonds are obtained from and re-exported to the Central Selling Organisation (CSO) in London.