Namib Millshas partnered with MTC to supportthe MTC 4 Life 2026 programme, committing to sponsoring the baking trade
Source
“Namib Mills has partnered with MTC to support the MTC 4 Life 2026 programme, committing to sponsoring the baking trade as part of efforts to equip young Namibians with practical, income-generating skills.”
Namib Millswill contributeN$5 000 per trainee in cash or baking equipment, plus baking expert and equipment
Source
“Through the partnership, Namib Mills will contribute N$5 000 per trainee, either in cash or baking equipment, in addition to the standard support provided by MTC.”
“However, with Namib Mills' investment in a wheat mill in 1986, a more comprehensive range of feed products was developed and manufactured using motorised mixing equipment.”
Namib Millsreached an agreement withNaretu, ending a 59-day strike
Source
“The Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (Naretu) and Namib Mills have reached an agreement, ending a 59-day strike involving close to 1 000 workers.”
“Namib Mills has given its workers 72 hours to return to work after the company reached an agreement with the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (Naretu) to end a 59-day strike involving about 1 000 workers.”
Namib Millsreachedan agreement with Naretu to end a 59-day strike
Source
“Namib Mills has given its workers 72 hours to return to work after the company reached an agreement with the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (Naretu) to end a 59-day strike involving about 1 000 workers.”
Namib Mills (Pty) Ltdhad a strike byclose to 700 workers across the country ending after two months
Source
“A STRIKE by close to 700 workers of Namib Mills (Pty) Ltd across the country has finally ended after two months, following an agreement between the union representing the workers and the employer.”
Namib Millssaid it is ready to concludea wage agreement and allow workers to return to work
Source
“Namib Mills said it is ready to conclude a wage agreement and allow workers to return to work following months of industrial action that have disrupted operations at one of Namibia's largest food producers.”
The Trade Union Congress of Namibia has called for urgent reforms to labour legislation after Namibia was placed in the "orange" category of the International Trade Union Confederation's Global Rights Index for violations of workers' rights. TUCNA highlighted concerns over restrictions affecting trade union registration, collective bargaining, and the right to strike, noting that while Namibia's labour framework provides strong protections on paper, workers face procedural and administrative barriers in practice.
Why it matters
Namibia's 'orange' labour rights rating and TUCNA's call for urgent reforms signal a critical domestic issue affecting millions of workers and the country's legal standing.
The Trade Union Congress of Namibia has called for urgent reforms to labour legislation after Namibia was placed in the "orange" category of the International Trade Union Confederation's Global Rights Index for violations of workers' rights. TUCNA highlighted concerns over restrictions affecting trade union registration, collective bargaining, and the right to strike, noting that while Namibia's labour framework provides strong protections on paper, workers face procedural and administrative barriers in practice.
MTC's flagship corporate social investment program, launched in 2022, equips young Namibians aged 18–35 with vocational training in trades including baking, hairdressing, and cell phone repair, providing each trainee with N$5,000 in startup support and tools. Since launch, the initiative has trained 161 youth countrywide and invested approximately N$6 million.
Namib Mills has partnered with MTC to sponsor baking training as part of the MTC 4 Life 2026 programme, contributing N$5,000 per trainee and providing baking expertise and equipment. The initiative aims to equip 30 unemployed and self-employed young people aged 18–35 in the ||Kharas region with practical, income-generating skills, with training to commence in April 2026.
Feedmaster, a leading animal feed producer founded in 1983 as a Namib Mills subsidiary, has expanded from producing maize chop to operating three plants with over 220,000 tonnes annual capacity, and has acquired regional operations and established laboratories to support Namibia's livestock sector.
The Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (Naretu) and Namib Mills have concluded a wage deal ending a strike involving close to 1,000 workers. Under the agreement, workers will receive back pay and bonuses this week, with improved benefits automatically implemented from 1 July 2026 without further negotiation.
Namib Mills and the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union have ended a 59-day strike involving about 1,000 workers. Under the agreement, workers will receive part of last year's benefits and bonuses, with backpay expected next week and improved benefits from 1 July 2026 automatically incorporated.
A 59-day strike by nearly 700 Namib Mills workers across Namibia has ended following an agreement with the employer. The union secured improved benefits for 2026, including partial bonus payments on Friday and back pay the following week, with full benefits to take effect from 1 July.
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.
Namibia Revolutionary Transport Union and Namib Mills have signed an agreement ending a nine-week industrial action, with workers to receive backpay and bonus portions, and benefits negotiated through 2026.
Namib Mills and the Namibia Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union have made meaningful progress in wage negotiations and reached broad agreement on substantive wage issues, but talks have stalled after the union introduced items outside the scope of the dispute. The industrial action, which began in January 2026 after months of failed negotiations, involved nearly 700 workers across multiple depots demanding higher wages, housing and transport allowances, and full December bonuses.
Namibia Breweries Limited conducted a half-day training session for human resource and safety managers from 12 major companies in Windhoek to promote responsible and moderate alcohol consumption in the workplace. The initiative aims to help companies address alcohol misuse and strengthen wellness and safety programmes, with NBL emphasizing that alcohol-related disruption should be treated as an operational risk.
Namib Mills workers represented by Naretu have failed to reach a wage deal with the food manufacturer despite four rounds of mediated negotiations, with the union citing threats of disciplinary hearings and what it calls company "arrogance." The company claims it has agreed on wage issues and is ready to end the lockout, but says the union has added demands outside the scope of wage negotiations and blames workers for unlawful strike conduct.
The Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union reports that close to 1,000 workers at Namib Mills sites in Windhoek, Otavi and Walvis Bay have been on strike for 54 days and have gone two months without pay due to the company's "no work, no pay" policy. The union's secretary-general has called on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to intervene, warning of potential food shortages if the dispute is not resolved.
Namibia has launched an FMD Support Fund and Task Force to protect its N$15 billion livestock industry from Foot-and-Mouth Disease, with 11 partners pledging nearly N$13 million. The effort aims to strengthen surveillance, border biosecurity, and response capacity amid heightened risk from FMD outbreaks in neighbouring countries.
Namibia's newly established foot-and-mouth disease support fund, organized by farmers' unions, the Directorate of Veterinary Services, and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, has raised N$12.76 million from corporations and unions to strengthen biosecurity and emergency response. The fund aims to raise N$50 million to complement N$57 million allocated by the agriculture ministry for awareness, prevention, and rapid response efforts.
Private and public sector partners have pledged over N$11.2 million towards a newly launched Foot and Mouth Disease Support Fund targeting N$50 million to strengthen Namibia's prevention capacity, veterinary surveillance, and outbreak response. The move comes as Namibia faces increasing FMD risk from neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, with a national FMD Task Force established to coordinate prevention and containment strategies.
Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture has established the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Support Fund and FMD Task Force to protect the livestock sector against potential outbreaks, with private sector pledges including N$2 million each from Bank Windhoek and FirstRand, and N$3 million annually from the Namibia Agricultural Union. The initiatives will support vaccination campaigns, border biosecurity, veterinary infrastructure, and farmer awareness programmes to safeguard Namibia's N$15 billion livestock industry.
The foot-and-mouth disease support fund was officially launched at the agriculture ministry with industry pledges of N$11 million. The fund, a coordinated effort between the four national farmers' unions and the Directorate of Veterinary Services, aims to finance awareness programmes, farmer training, and rapid responses to any outbreak, with a first-phase target of N$50 million.
Local food manufacturer Namib Mills has warned of potential retrenchments if workers reject its latest offer, which includes salary alignment, 50% of December bonus, and five months' backpay. Union leaders are holding out for 100% of the bonus and seven months' backpay, saying they will not operate on the company's deadlines.
Namibia Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union leader Petersen Kambinda says negotiations between striking Namib Mills workers and the company have progressed 80% toward an amicable solution, with agreement reached on salary and benefits. The remaining disagreements concern the December bonus and back pay, with the company offering 50% of the bonus and five months' back pay while the union seeks 100% of the bonus and seven months' back pay.
The Top Score Seven-a-Side football tournament, one of Namibia's longest-running sporting events, was launched for its 26th year on Tuesday with a record 72 teams competing across eight groups. The tournament, held annually since 2001 at Ramblers Sport Club and sponsored by Namib Mills, runs over five weekends with finals scheduled for 13–14 March.
Namib Mills and the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union reached a partial agreement on wages after a three-week strike involving over 95% of workers, with the minister's mediation securing agreement on yearly salary boosts, salary adjustments, and allowances; three issues remain unresolved.
Minister Wise Immanuel has mediated talks between Namib Mills and striking workers represented by Naretu, with agreement reached on salary increments, salary adjustments, allowances, and bonuses. Several issues remain unresolved, and the minister has ordered both parties to reach consensus by the end of next week.
Namib Mills has played down claims that an ongoing employee strike is leading to food shortages, saying it is prioritising major product lines and honouring client contracts. The union representing striking workers warned that continued industrial action could lead to a national crisis with shops running out of food by week's end, but a Namibian reporter found no evidence of shortages at sampled retailers.
The strike at Namib Mills entered its second week on Monday with workers locked out across the country. The company's "final offer" includes a 5% salary increase and N$200 monthly transport allowance, but negotiations remain deadlocked over disputes regarding December bonuses and backpay, with the union accusing the company of using bonuses to punish strikers.
Namib Mills has offered employees a 10% salary increment, which the company says is three times the inflation rate, but falls short of the union's demand for a 36% increase. Workers have entered their seventh day of striking while the company has implemented a lockout, with disputes over salary equity and allegations of strike rule violations.
Namib Mills has denied recruiting additional workers to replace striking employees, but the union Naretu claims the company has breached agreed strike and lockout rules by bringing in contract workers from labour contractors. Workers remain at an impasse with the company, camped outside its head office following a lockout issued after strike notice.
Workers at Namibia's largest grain processor embarked on industrial action after the company imposed a lockout in response to their strike, which follows six months of failed salary negotiations. The union is demanding wage alignment and an end to salary disparities where newly hired workers earn more than long-serving employees in the same roles.
Workers at Namib Mills began striking on Monday after 683 of 710 employees voted to walk out in a wage dispute with management. The company has implemented a temporary lockout, with both sides having engaged the Labour Commissioner; Namib Mills says it remains willing to negotiate and has activated contingency plans to maintain food production.