Namib Mills strike continues as wage stalemate deepens

The strike at Namib Mills has entered its second week with hundreds of workers remaining off the job amid a deadlock in wage negotiations between the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (NARETU) and management. The dispute, which began on 12 January when employees gave notice of industrial action, centres on workers’ demands for salary alignment, back pay, and better pay packages.

Namib Mills has responded with a temporary lockout of workers at depots nationwide following stalled negotiations. The company has offered a 10% salary increase, described by management as being well above the current inflation rate. Still, the union says the offer fails to address deep wage inequities and other outstanding demands.

Tensions have occasionally flared on picket lines. In one incident, a union leader reportedly punched a contractor amid allegations that replacement labour was being brought in, claims the company has denied.

Meanwhile, workers at the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) have formally announced they will begin industrial action from Friday after more than six years without a wage increase. Represented by the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN), the employees say their efforts to secure salary adjustments and improved working conditions through formal negotiations were unsuccessful, leading to the decision to strike.

Labour analyst Sydwill Scholtz says the twin disputes reveal broader pressures in the labour market and raise questions about the potential for further strikes in the coming months.

Scholtz said that prolonged wage stagnation due to rising living costs can fuel unrest and that both employers and unions will need to find common ground to avert escalating industrial action.

The developments will be closely watched by employers, unions, and policymakers as pressure mounts on companies and government to address workers’ grievances in a tight economic climate.