Civil servants want 8% pay rise
Nantu, Napwu lead new onslaught
Seven months after the last pay increase for civil servants, which was described by some as a 'joke', unions are back with new - and higher - demands.
Amid concerns about an already bloated public service wage bill, unions representing civil servants last month submitted salary-increment demands to government, which include an 8% salary hike across the board.
Workers also want an increase in housing allowance for below management by 20%, an increase in housing allowance for management by 8%, an increase in kilometre tariff to N$7 per kilometre and an increase in transport allowance of below management by 20% for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The submission made by civil servants through the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) and Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) is calling for a revision to government’s pay structures for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal years, despite the acknowledgement by the two sister unions that government will have to bear the burden of a deficit to fund its activities this year.
Workers are demanding a 10% salary hike for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the document showed.
This comes on the heels of a 3% salary hike granted to public workers last August after civil servants voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike.
Overall, personnel expenditure is forecast to grow by 2.6% or N$823.8 million to N$32.9 billion following last year’s increase. This while the 2022/23 budget contained a N$1.43 billion allocation to the ‘improvement of remuneration structure’, IJG noted in its budget review for 2023-2024.
“Government’s projected income has been presenting a deficit outlook in relation to our projected expenditure. Henceforth, our proposal for salaries and other benefit improvements for civil servants are submitted moderately,” the submission by the two unions - signed and stamped on 20 February - read.
‘Why are you asking?’
Speaking on the matter, Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika said there was not much to comment on regarding their demands at this stage.
“I cannot discuss it yet, it has not yet been received by the intended recipient,” she said.
Clarity would be provided after a meeting with government, which is only scheduled to take place in April, Shaanika said.
Napwu secretary-general Petrus Nevonga said it was not a matter meant for public consumption. He also questioned Namibian Sun’s interest in the matter, asking: “Do you work in government? Do you work in the finance department of government? Are you the spokesperson of government? Why are you asking as if you are the spokesperson of government?”
He was responding to a query on the rationale for the pay-hike demand in light of the 3% increase granted just seven months ago.
“We have submitted a proposal to government. What follows is an engagement between us and government,” he said.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila did not respond to a query sent to her.
We want more
Civil servants have also demanded that government increase qualifying amounts for housing subsidies. Among the proposed measures are that government raise the qualifying amount from N$200 000 to N$400 000 for civil servants in the N$60 000 to N$90 000 salary band, and increase the qualifying amount from N$270 000 to N$540 000 for civil servants in the N$90 000 to N$120 000 band.
Civil servants earning more are not left out of the demands, with increases proposed for various other qualifying amounts.
The unions also called on government to look into the Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme (Psemas), saying any inefficiencies must be addressed.
“This study should also include the possible improvement of the national health facilities and the procurement of advanced medical equipment countrywide as part of cost-cutting measures and the improvement of public health services to all citizens,” the submission said.
Not much fiscal space
Reacting to the submission, Simonis Storm economist Theo Klein said there was little space for government to give in to the demands.
“There is not much fiscal space to improve government salaries at this time. However, if there is increased political pressure - given the fact that there are elections next year - it is likely various ministries will see cuts in their budgets because an increase in public salaries was not accounted for,” he said.
“Although we have seen an increase in tax revenue, we have also seen an increase in expenditure, so there is not much space for public salaries to increase,” Klein added.
Workers also want an increase in housing allowance for below management by 20%, an increase in housing allowance for management by 8%, an increase in kilometre tariff to N$7 per kilometre and an increase in transport allowance of below management by 20% for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The submission made by civil servants through the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) and Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) is calling for a revision to government’s pay structures for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal years, despite the acknowledgement by the two sister unions that government will have to bear the burden of a deficit to fund its activities this year.
Workers are demanding a 10% salary hike for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the document showed.
This comes on the heels of a 3% salary hike granted to public workers last August after civil servants voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike.
Overall, personnel expenditure is forecast to grow by 2.6% or N$823.8 million to N$32.9 billion following last year’s increase. This while the 2022/23 budget contained a N$1.43 billion allocation to the ‘improvement of remuneration structure’, IJG noted in its budget review for 2023-2024.
“Government’s projected income has been presenting a deficit outlook in relation to our projected expenditure. Henceforth, our proposal for salaries and other benefit improvements for civil servants are submitted moderately,” the submission by the two unions - signed and stamped on 20 February - read.
‘Why are you asking?’
Speaking on the matter, Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika said there was not much to comment on regarding their demands at this stage.
“I cannot discuss it yet, it has not yet been received by the intended recipient,” she said.
Clarity would be provided after a meeting with government, which is only scheduled to take place in April, Shaanika said.
Napwu secretary-general Petrus Nevonga said it was not a matter meant for public consumption. He also questioned Namibian Sun’s interest in the matter, asking: “Do you work in government? Do you work in the finance department of government? Are you the spokesperson of government? Why are you asking as if you are the spokesperson of government?”
He was responding to a query on the rationale for the pay-hike demand in light of the 3% increase granted just seven months ago.
“We have submitted a proposal to government. What follows is an engagement between us and government,” he said.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila did not respond to a query sent to her.
We want more
Civil servants have also demanded that government increase qualifying amounts for housing subsidies. Among the proposed measures are that government raise the qualifying amount from N$200 000 to N$400 000 for civil servants in the N$60 000 to N$90 000 salary band, and increase the qualifying amount from N$270 000 to N$540 000 for civil servants in the N$90 000 to N$120 000 band.
Civil servants earning more are not left out of the demands, with increases proposed for various other qualifying amounts.
The unions also called on government to look into the Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme (Psemas), saying any inefficiencies must be addressed.
“This study should also include the possible improvement of the national health facilities and the procurement of advanced medical equipment countrywide as part of cost-cutting measures and the improvement of public health services to all citizens,” the submission said.
Not much fiscal space
Reacting to the submission, Simonis Storm economist Theo Klein said there was little space for government to give in to the demands.
“There is not much fiscal space to improve government salaries at this time. However, if there is increased political pressure - given the fact that there are elections next year - it is likely various ministries will see cuts in their budgets because an increase in public salaries was not accounted for,” he said.
“Although we have seen an increase in tax revenue, we have also seen an increase in expenditure, so there is not much space for public salaries to increase,” Klein added.
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