National Minimum Wage and Farm Workers
- Nicole Schwandt
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
NAU Newsletter | 16 January 2026
On 7 August 2024, the National Minimum Wage for Namibia (NMW) was published in the Government Gazette, applying to all sectors in the country. According to this Wage Order, all workers in the country were to receive at least N$ 18.00 per hour from 1 January 2025. However, the regulations made a concession for agricultural workers to be able to phase in over three years as follows:
i. N$ 10.00/hour from 1 January 2025;
ii. N$ 14.00/hour from 1 January 2026; and
iii. N$ 18.00/hour from 1 January 2027;
This means that from this month, farm workers will have to receive a cash wage of at least N$ 14.00/hour compared to the previous year's N$ 10.00/hour.
The NMW regulations further stipulate that the NMW does not replace the 2023 farm worker minimum wage packet, but only prescribes the minimum cash wage as above. Farm workers will therefore still be entitled to all the other existing fringe benefits in the farm worker minimum wage agreement of 2023, including housing, water, electricity and food provision. Enclosed is a copy of the relevant NMW regulations and see paragraphs 4.4 and 7.1. (a) in this regard. See also the 2023 farm worker minimum wage in which the in-kind fringe benefits were specified.
The Agricultural Employers’ Association (AEA) has not yet succeeded in convincing the Ministry of Labour that the in-kind benefits of farm workers should instead be part of the hourly wage of N$ 14.00/hour. Therefore, in addition to the N$ 14.00/hour, farmers must by law still provide housing with water and sanitation as well as one of the three ration options:
- Keeping of own livestock or access to arable land; or
- Free food provision for the worker and his family; or
- Ration allowance of N$ 650.00/month.
The AEA is not satisfied with the answers of the Ministry of Labour on the in-kind fringe benefits that must also be paid by agricultural employers in addition to the NMW. The AEA undertakes to further engage with the Ministry and insists on proper consultation and deliberation to prevent further job losses.
To summarize: The remuneration and fringe benefits of farm workers remain unchanged and only the minimum cash wage is increased from N$ 10.00/hour to N$ 14.00/hour as from this month.
Comments