Security guards in the Zambezi region staged a demonstration on Thursday at Katima Mulilo demanding better wages and overtime payment for Sundays and public holidays.
The security guards, led by the Namibia Public Security and Allied Workers Union (Napsawu), handed over their petition to the regional Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations offices on Thursday.
In the petition read by Siglinde Diocotlhe, they demanded that the new minimum wage of N$16 per hour be implemented effective from January as gazetted by the government.
She accused security companies of not honouring the dates on monthly salaries and also of not providing guards with uniforms.
She demanded immediate change.
“We also need government ministries and agencies to pay security companies in line with the new wages for us, so we can be paid accordingly.
“We do not want fly-by-night security companies.
“The labour inspector must inspect these security companies to see if they are complying with labour laws,” she stated.
She added that the tender board should not award tenders to security companies that fail to honour minimum wages as required by law.
“We hope and believe that the labour ministry will take up our concerns and see to it that they are resolved,” she said.
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations introduced the new minimum wages in December for security, domestic, and agricultural workers and they came into effect on 1 January.
Hence, the justice ministry urged all employers to comply with the national minimum wage and treat workers fairly.
Security workers will earn N$16 per hour, an increase of N$2.50.
Domestic workers will earn N$15 per hour, an increase of N$3.
Agricultural workers will earn N$14 per hour, an increase of N$4 from last year’s wages.
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