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Friday, 18 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Friday, 18 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union

Also known as: MANWU

Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union — labor union representing construction and retail workers, negotiating collective agreements and raising workplace safety concerns.

2026-06-192026-09-18

What’s been said

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

  1. June 2026
  2. Windhoek Observer

    Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU) confirmed planned strike by Furnmart employees will proceed across all branches nationwide

    Source

    The acting deputy general secretary of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU), Lukas Matias, has confirmed that a planned strike by Furnmart employees will proceed across all branches nationwide, following a breakdown in negotiations over salary increases and the introduction of a housing allowance.

    Furnmart strike set to hit all branches nationwide
Society

China Railway to compensate family of worker killed on site

The News

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.

15 hours ago · The Namibian

Yesterday

  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.

    15 hours ago · The Namibian

  2. 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.

    19 hours ago · The Namibian

Wednesday 16 September

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute