Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union

Also known as: MANWU

Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union — labor union that negotiates collective agreements for construction and retail workers, recently advocating on wage enforcement and workplace safety.

2026-06-192026-11-02

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union

Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

What’s been said

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

September 2026
17 SeptThe Namibian
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union confirmed Hedimbi's death to The Namibian
Source
“Hedimbi's death was confirmed to The Namibian by the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union yesterday, who also told the publication that the company would compensate Hedimbi's family.”
China Railway to compensate family after worker dies on site
17 SeptThe Namibian
Manwu raised the question how many workers have to die before workplace negligence is confronted
Source
“How many workers have to die before workplace negligence is confronted?" This question was raised by the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) following a series of workplace deaths in the country.”
Manwu sounds alarm over workplace deaths
17 SeptThe Namibian
Manwu called on the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations to investigate workplace safety
Source
“The union has called on the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations to investigate workplace safety and possible negligence by employers.”
Manwu sounds alarm over workplace deaths
16 SeptThe Namibian
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union confirmed the death on Tuesday
Source
“The death was confirmed on Tuesday by the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu).”
China Railway employee dies after workplace injury in Windhoek
15 SeptWindhoek Observer
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union prescribed in collective agreement with CIF security-guard rates of N$153.88 for 12-hour shift (year one)
Source
“The ministry issued the clarification after a collective agreement between the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) and the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU) prescribed security-guard rates of N$153.88 for a 12-hour shift in its first year and N$161.57 in the second year.”
Labour ministry scrapes security wage clause
3 SeptInformanté
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union agreed the 2026 Collective Agreement with the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia
Source
“The agreement between the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia and the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU) came into effect on Tuesday and will run for two years.”
Construction workers get new minimum wage deal
July 2026
27 JulThe Namibian
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union general secretary Angula Angula says the new tariff hikes will be difficult for many workers in the city
Source
“Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union general secretary Angula Angula says the new tariff hikes are going to be difficult for many workers in the city.”
‘Everything’s going up except salaries’
3 JulThe Namibian
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) reached deadlock with company on salary increments and housing allowance terms
Source
“Over 467 employees countrywide embarked on a stay-away strike last Monday after the company and the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) reached a deadlock on salary increments and housing allowance terms.”
Furnmart employees end strike with two-year salary increment deal
3 JulThe Namibian
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) signed two-year wage agreement with company on Thursday
Source
“However, the strike that lasted for almost two weeks came to an end after the company and Manwu on Thursday signed an agreement effective 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027.”
Furnmart employees end strike with two-year salary increment deal
June 2026
24 JunThe Namibian
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union supported the petition submitted by workers
Source
“The petition, submitted by a group of employees with the support of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union, says workers are struggling to cope with rising transport costs, increasing rental prices and stagnant wages.”
Furnmart strike: Workers demand 8% wage hike

Business

Ministry clarifies construction security workers must earn minimum wage

The News

The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations has clarified that security workers in the construction industry must receive at least N$16.00 per ordinary hour in 2026 and N$18.00 per ordinary hour from 1 January 2027, after a collective agreement prescribed lower rates of N$153.88 and N$161.57 per 12-hour shift. The ministry stated that the National Minimum Wage takes precedence where a collective agreement prescribes less favourable terms.

26 September 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 26 September

Ministry clarifies construction security workers must earn minimum wage
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations has clarified that security workers in the construction industry must receive at least N$16.00 per ordinary hour in 2026 and N$18.00 per ordinary hour from 1 January 2027, after a collective agreement prescribed lower rates of N$153.88 and N$161.57 per 12-hour shift. The ministry stated that the National Minimum Wage takes precedence where a collective agreement prescribes less favourable terms.
26 September 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 17 September

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 →
Union raises alarm over four workplace deaths in 40 days
The Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union has called on the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations to investigate workplace safety and possible employer negligence following four worker deaths in less than 40 days, including two at Gammams Water Care Works in Windhoek in August, one at Uis Tin Mining Company, and one at a Chinese construction site in Windhoek.
17 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 16 September

China Railway worker dies from workplace injury in Windhoek
A 34-year-old China Railway Seventh Group employee died on Monday from a workplace injury sustained at a road upgrade site near Rehoboth road block. The Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union confirmed the death, and labour inspectors were called to the site on Tuesday.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 15 September

Labour ministry nullifies construction security wage clause
The ministry of justice and labour relations has rejected a collective agreement between the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia and the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union that prescribed security-guard rates of N$12.82–N$13.46 an hour, saying they fall below Namibia's statutory minimum wage of N$16 an hour (rising to N$18 from 1 January 2027). The acting executive director said the National Minimum Wage takes precedence over less favourable agreement terms.
15 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 13 September

Construction security guards entitled to national minimum wage despite collective agreement
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations clarified that security guards in the construction sector must be paid the national minimum wage of at least N$16 per ordinary hour in 2026 (rising to N$18 from 1 January 2027), overriding a lower rate in the construction sector's new collective agreement that set security wages at N$153.88 per 12-hour shift in the first year.
13 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 5 September

Namibian construction minimum wage rises to N$20.43 per hour
New minimum wages and employment conditions for construction workers came into force on 1 September and will remain in place for two years. Labourers and general workers will earn a minimum of N$20.43 per hour in the first year, rising to N$21.45 per hour from 1 September 2027, with the agreement also requiring employers to provide protective equipment and setting productivity standards.
5 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 3 September

Namibia extends collective wage agreement to all construction workers
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations has extended the 2026 Collective Agreement between the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia and MANWU to all construction employers and employees, making the terms legally binding across the entire sector for two years. The agreement, effective from Tuesday, mandates improved wages and conditions including free protective clothing, living-away allowances of 15% of hourly wage for workers deployed away from home, and additional travel allowances where daily travel exceeds three hours.
3 September 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 27 July

Rising cost of living outpaces salary growth for Namibians
Namibians report that expenses are rising faster than wages, forcing many to rely on side hustles and cash loans to survive. The squeeze is intensifying as electricity and municipal tariffs increase while workers' salaries remain stagnant.
27 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 July

Furnmart employees end strike with salary raise deal
Furnmart and Home Corp Namibia employees ended their two-week strike after the company agreed to a two-year wage deal increasing salaries by 5% for those earning more than N$6,000 and N$300 per month for those earning less, effective 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027.
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 24 June

Furnmart workers strike over 8% wage hike demand
Furnmart and Home Corp Namibia employees have launched a strike demanding an 8% salary increase and a monthly housing allowance of N$500, citing poverty wages and mounting financial pressures contributing to mental health challenges. Wage negotiations that began last August failed to produce an agreement, the matter was referred to the Labour Commission, and employees voted in favour of the strike.
24 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 19 June

Furnmart strike set for all branches nationwide Monday
A planned strike by Furnmart employees across all branches nationwide will proceed Monday following breakdown in negotiations over salary increases and housing allowance introduction, according to the acting deputy general secretary of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union.
19 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →