… The fees were revised and implemented in June 2025 after a report claimed that the trustees were underpaid compared to other similar bracket companies in southern Africa. ‘CASH COW’ Labour analyst Herbert Jauch says serving on the GIPF board should be about protecting workers’ pe …
GIPF board members paid N$666 000 in two monthsNamibia Minute.
Monday, 11 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 11 May 2026
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Person
Herbert Jauch
Also known as: Jauch
Labour expert who critiques Namibia's minimum wage and employment targets as insufficient to meet economic needs.
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- May 2026
- April 2026
… The investigations at the RA reignited the issue of hiring practices across state-owned enterprises and government offices, which labour expert Herbert Jauch says has been a long-existing concern in Namibia. …
Opposition, experts raise concern over jobs for comrades and hiring bias in NamibiaLabour expert Herbert Jauch says workers have nothing to celebrate on May Day, especially those who earn the N$18 an hour minimum wage, introduced by the government two years ago, as it only amounts to N$3 400 a month. …
‘N$18 minimum wage not worth celebrating on May Day’… Labour expert Herbert Jauch says it was important to carefully distinguish between job registration and job creation. …
President clarifies 500 000 jobs pledge, opposition criticises slow progress- March 2026
… Labour expert Herbert Jauch argues that, given the already high levels of unemployment, any retrenchment would increase pressure on the government in its efforts to reduce Namibia’s high unemployment rate. …
Cheetah Cement retrenchment talks ongoing… Labour analyst Herbert Jauch says the term ‘national interest’ would need to be clearly defined in the bill. …
Employers fear bill could invite political intervention… Labour expert Herbert Jauch says the issue is structural. “Access to education has widened, but the economy hasn’t created enough jobs for graduates. …
Inside the world of the unemployed graduate- February 2026
… Labour analyst Herbert Jauch says this weakens oversight. “When you operate without a board for several months, it means management is basically left unsupervised. …
Fisheries agency unsupervised for six months… Herbert Jauch is the chairperson of the Economic and Social Justice Trust.
Navigating Global Politics and Defending Our Right to Self-Determination- January 2026
… Economic and Social Justice Trust chairperson Herbert Jauch says it is surprising that the NHE board recommended extending the chief executive’s contract despite a consistent failure to meet housing targets. …
Sankwasa blocks NHE board’s bid to extend 60-year-old CEO’s contract
Politics
GIPF board members earned N$666,000 in two months in sitting fees
The News
The Government Institutions Pension Fund paid its board of trustees chairperson Penda Ithindi N$114,000 for attending three meetings in two months, and Napwu general secretary Petrus Nevonga N$92,163 during the same period, according to payroll records reviewed by The Namibian. The payments have revived concerns that clustered board and sub-committee meetings have become a parallel income stream for trustees already drawing civil service or union salaries.
Why it matters
GIPF board sitting fees reveal how state officials are building parallel income streams at public expense.
4 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Monday 4 May
GIPF board members earned N$666,000 in two months in sitting fees
The Government Institutions Pension Fund paid its board of trustees chairperson Penda Ithindi N$114,000 for attending three meetings in two months, and Napwu general secretary Petrus Nevonga N$92,163 during the same period, according to payroll records reviewed by The Namibian. The payments have revived concerns that clustered board and sub-committee meetings have become a parallel income stream for trustees already drawing civil service or union salaries.
4 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 29 April
Opposition, experts voice concern over political hiring bias in Namibia
Opposition leaders and labour experts have raised concerns about "jobs for comrades"—the practice of hiring based on political party membership and regional affiliation rather than merit. The Popular Democratic Movement secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe says the practice undermines fair employment and compromises nationalism, tracing the issue back to post-independence hiring patterns within state-owned enterprises.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Labour expert says N$18 minimum wage insufficient
Labour expert Herbert Jauch says workers have nothing to celebrate on May Day, citing that the N$18 per hour minimum wage introduced two years ago amounts to only N$3,400 monthly, with South Africa's minimum wage at N$30 per hour for comparison. Domestic, agricultural, and security workers received phased increases starting January 2024, set to reach N$18 per hour by 2027, despite opposition from the Namibian Employers' Federation.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 10 April
President clarifies 500,000 jobs will come from private sector growth
President Nandi-Ndaitwah clarified that the government's promise to create 500,000 jobs by 2030 will be achieved through economic growth and private sector expansion rather than direct government hiring, but opposition leaders and labour experts criticized the pace of progress, with expert Herbert Jauch noting that only around 5,000 jobs have been created and that 100,000 jobs annually are needed to meet the target.
10 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 26 March
Cheetah Cement plans to retrench 87 workers by April
Cheetah Cement has notified the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations of its intent to retrench 87 employees by 15 April, citing financial losses, import restrictions, and a blocked merger. The notice is a declaration of intent subject to ongoing consultations with the ministry and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia, and the final number of retrenchments may change.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 12 March
Employers warn draft dispute resolution bill risks political intervention
The Namibian Employers Federation has cautioned that a draft alternative dispute resolution bill, which would allow the justice and labour minister to direct a new commission to mediate disputes deemed in the national interest, could open the door to political involvement in workplace conflicts. While labour analysts note the provision is limited to mediation requiring both parties' agreement, concerns remain about how "national interest" would be defined and the potential for ministerial overreach.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Sunday 1 March
Graduate unemployment crisis deepens as jobs fail to match education
Despite widened access to higher education, Namibian graduates struggle to find permanent employment, with youth unemployment at 44.4% and many university-educated workers forced into informal jobs or underemployment. Labour experts attribute the crisis to structural economic limitations rather than lack of qualifications, leaving graduates bearing costly interview travel expenses while pursuing work in their fields.
1 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 11 February
Fisheries Observer Agency without board for six months
The Fisheries Observer Agency has operated without a board since August 2025, limiting management oversight and decision-making authority. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform was notified months in advance but has not appointed a replacement board, hampering the agency's ability to approve budgets, strategic plans, and review landed values.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 4 February
Namibia must build alliances to defend self-determination against imperialism
An opinion piece argues that small resource-rich nations like Namibia face threats to sovereignty from great powers pursuing imperial interests, citing the US attack on Venezuela as evidence. The author calls for Global South countries to form strategic alliances based on shared principles to ensure collective security and protect their right to self-determination.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Monday 26 January
Minister rejects housing enterprise CEO contract extension
Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa has rejected the National Housing Enterprise board's request to extend the contract of chief executive Gisbertus Mukulu beyond its June 2026 expiry, declining to publicly explain the decision. The rejection comes amid criticism of NHE's slow housing delivery—the organisation delivered only 445 houses in 2023/24 despite a national housing backlog of about 300,000 units.
26 January 2026 · The Namibian →