Namibia Minute.
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 25 June 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Herbert Jauch

Labour expert who critiques Namibia's minimum wage and job creation targets as insufficient to meet employment needs.

2023-10-062026-06-25
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. June 2026

  2. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch has launched a new book documenting Namibia's workers' movement history and challenges

    Source

    “Veteran trade unionist Herbert Jauch has launched a new book documenting the history, triumphs, and modern challenges of Namibia's workers' movement.”

    Jauch pens Namibian workers’ struggles

  3. The Namibian

    Jauch was a former founding director of the Labour Resource and Research Institute

    Source

    “As a former founding director of the Labour Resource and Research Institute, Jauch spent 30 years working with Namibian trade unions and remains active in social and economic justice advocacy.”

    Jauch pens Namibian workers’ struggles

  4. The Namibian

    Labour expert Herbert Jauch says the role of trade unions investing in businesses is a conflict of interest

    Source

    “Labour expert Herbert Jauch, who recently launched a book on Namibia's worker struggles, says the role of trade unions investing in businesses is a conflict of interest.”

    Mine workers’ billion-dollar empire on shaky ground

  5. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch says lack of regular reporting may have allowed some employers to neglect employment equity obligations without scrutiny

    Source

    “He says the lack of regular reporting may have allowed some employers to neglect their employment equity obligations without scrutiny.”

    Equity body in violation of own rules

  6. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch says the amount of money spent is far too big for a disciplinary hearing

    Source

    “Labour expert Herbert Jauch says the amount of money spent is far too big for a disciplinary hearing.”

    RA managers fired at public cost of N$2.6 million
  7. May 2026

  8. Windhoek Observer

    Labour analyst Herbert Jauch said the incident highlights wider problems with labour oversight and enforcement in Namibia

    Source

    “Labour analyst Herbert Jauch said the incident highlights wider problems with labour oversight and enforcement in Namibia.”

    Amutse to investigate Karibib dumped CVs

  9. The Namibian

    Labour analyst Herbert Jauch says serving on GIPF board should be about protecting workers' pensions, not personal gain

    Source

    “Labour analyst Herbert Jauch says serving on the GIPF board should be about protecting workers' pensions, not personal gain.”

    GIPF board members paid N$666 000 in two months
  10. April 2026

  11. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch says tribalism has existed across various spectrums of recruitments

    Source

    “Meanwhile, Jauch says tribalism has existed across various spectrums of recruitments.”

    Opposition, experts raise concern over jobs for comrades and hiring bias in Namibia

  12. The Namibian

    Labour expert Herbert Jauch says workers have nothing to celebrate on May Day given N$18 minimum wage

    Source

    “Labour 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’

  13. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch said it was important to distinguish between job registration and job creation

    Source

    “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
Society

Trade unionist Jauch documents Namibia's workers' movement history

The News

Veteran trade unionist Herbert Jauch has launched a book documenting the history, triumphs, and modern challenges of Namibia's workers' movement, covering experiences under colonial rule, the rise of trade unions, and the role of the National Union of Namibian Workers in both the liberation struggle and workplace battles. Jauch says the book fills a gap in historical memory, as experiences of Namibian trade unionists have rarely been documented, depriving future generations of learning from past perspectives on the current labour movement situation.

12 hours ago · The Namibian →

Today

  1. Trade unionist Jauch documents Namibia's workers' movement history

    Veteran trade unionist Herbert Jauch has launched a book documenting the history, triumphs, and modern challenges of Namibia's workers' movement, covering experiences under colonial rule, the rise of trade unions, and the role of the National Union of Namibian Workers in both the liberation struggle and workplace battles. Jauch says the book fills a gap in historical memory, as experiences of Namibian trade unionists have rarely been documented, depriving future generations of learning from past perspectives on the current labour movement situation.

    12 hours ago · The Namibian →

Sunday 21 June

  1. Mineworkers' union investment empire faces transparency and benefit questions

    Namibia's Mineworkers' Union of Namibia channels members' dues through Namibia Miners Investment Trust (Namit) and Nam-Mic Holdings, which have grown into a N$900-million portfolio with stakes in banks, mines, hotels and other sectors. Members and their representatives say they have seen little benefit from their decades of contributions and allege lack of transparency and financial irregularities.

    21 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 18 June

  1. Employment Equity Commission fails to publish reports for five years

    The Employment Equity Commission has not published its annual reports since 2019, violating legal requirements. The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations attributes this to budget constraints, staffing shortages, and software failures, but unions say the failure reflects incompetence and undermines monitoring of employment discrimination.

    18 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 4 June

  1. Roads Authority spent N$2.6 million firing two executives

    The Roads Authority paid private lawyers more than N$2.6 million to discipline and fire two executives accused of inflating a vehicle procurement tender. Labour experts say the expense demonstrates how parastatals squander public money.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 21 May

  1. Mines minister to investigate dumped CVs in Karibib

    Mines and Energy Minister Modestus Amutse says his ministry will investigate allegations that CVs submitted by unemployed Namibians to M15 Mining Contractor, a Chinese company working for Osino Resources Corporation in Karibib, were dumped in the open. Amutse described the handling of job seekers' personal information as unacceptable and indicated the Ministry of Labour may also become involved due to both labour and ethical concerns.

    21 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 4 May

  1. 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

  1. 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 →

  2. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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 →

Herbert Jauch — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute