Namibia Minute.
Tuesday, 6 October 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 6 October 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Herbert Jauch

Veteran trade unionist who documented Namibia's workers' movement history and offers labour market commentary on minimum wage and employment trends.

2023-10-062026-10-06
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What’s been said

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

  1. February 2026

  2. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch is chairperson of the Economic and Social Justice Trust

    Source

    “Herbert Jauch is the chairperson of the Economic and Social Justice Trust.”

    Navigating Global Politics and Defending Our Right to Self-Determination
  3. January 2026

  4. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch described as surprising NHE board's recommendation to extend the chief executive's contract despite failure to meet housing targets

    Source

    “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
  5. April 2024

  6. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch says population growth with young people presents opportunity for skilled workforce

    Source

    “Labour expert Herbert Jauch says "population growth with so many young people presents an opportunity to have a skilled workforce that could transform the economy in terms of increasing productive activities".”

    Namibia’s Population Dynamics: Opportunities and Challenges
  7. October 2023

  8. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch says the rush to launch Hyphen green hydrogen project should not divert focus from immediate needs of Namibians

    Source

    “"This does not sound like a wise decision and it ignores the pressing current needs," Herbert Jauch from the Economic Social Justice Trust says.”

    Govt eyes oil money to finance 24% Hyphen stake

  9. The Namibian

    Herbert Jauch said the export strategy could open the door to potentially exploitative practices, reminiscent of fossil fuels and diamond mining.

    Source

    “Herbert Jauch, the chairperson of the Economic Social Justice Trust, says this strategy could open the door to potentially exploitative practices, reminiscent of the exploitation witnessed in the past with fossil fuels, diamond mining, and other valuable natural resources.”

    Civil society demands disclosure amid green hydrogen ‘secrecy’
Agriculture & Land

Agricultural workers must receive minimum wage during FMD outbreak

The News

Despite the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting the livestock sector, farmers remain required to pay agricultural workers the national minimum wage—N$14 per hour from 1 January, rising to N$18 next year—with no government exemption announced. The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations says all employers must comply unless officially notified otherwise, though regional authorities are discussing the wage issue as part of developing an outbreak response plan.

4 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 4 October

  1. Agricultural workers must receive minimum wage during FMD outbreak

    Despite the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting the livestock sector, farmers remain required to pay agricultural workers the national minimum wage—N$14 per hour from 1 January, rising to N$18 next year—with no government exemption announced. The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations says all employers must comply unless officially notified otherwise, though regional authorities are discussing the wage issue as part of developing an outbreak response plan.

    4 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 17 September

  1. China Railway to compensate family of worker killed on site

    Lazarus Hedimbi, a 34-year-old mechanic for China Railway Seventh Group, died on Monday after a fitting from an excavator struck him in the chest near Heroes' Acre. Following employee outrage and intervention by transport authorities, the company agreed to compensate his family and assist with funeral expenses.

    17 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 15 August

  1. Low-income Namibians stretched by family support obligations

    Teachers and low-wage earners in Namibia struggle to make ends meet despite formal employment, as salaries are consumed by rent, loans, and support for dependent relatives. The 2025 Namibia Financial Inclusion Survey reports that 74.6% of adults rarely or never make their income last until payday, while 63% struggle to keep up with financial commitments.

    15 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Wednesday 5 August

  1. NEF supports workplace breastfeeding but warns against uniform approach

    The Namibia Employers' Federation supports reasonable measures enabling mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, but has cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach, noting that employers operate under vastly different circumstances in size, resources, and operating conditions.

    5 August 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Ministry recovers N$1.5m in retail worker wage complaints

    The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations recovered N$1.5 million between April and June linked to 1,241 labour complaints in wholesale and retail businesses, involving unpaid salaries, unlawful deductions, and other payments owed to employees. Labour inspections found common violations including non-payment of wages and unlawful deductions, with a labour expert noting that many workers fear reporting violations due to job loss concerns.

    5 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Ministry urges employers to support breastfeeding mothers

    Deputy health and social services minister Suzan Ndjaleka has called on public and private sector employers to introduce breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies, including maternity leave, dedicated breastfeeding corners, and flexible hours, saying mothers should not have to choose between their careers and their children's health.

    4 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Seven companies fail to meet affirmative action leadership requirements

    The Employment Equity Commission found seven employers non-compliant with affirmative action provisions after they failed to groom qualified Namibians for senior positions and neglected to obtain required exemptions or approvals from the labour minister. The companies also failed to consult employees during the preparation and implementation of their affirmative action plans.

    14 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 13 July

  1. Over 2 600 nursing graduates fail national HPCNA assessment

    More than 2 600 nursing and midwifery graduates have failed the national exam required to practise in Namibia since the test became compulsory in January 2025, raising concerns about the quality of nursing training. The Health Professions Councils of Namibia reported that 2 743 of 5 427 graduates evaluated passed, while 2 683 failed, including those who did not sit for the exam.

    13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

  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.

    25 June 2026 · 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