Also known as: Napwu
Trade union representing public sector employees that negotiates wage agreements and raises workplace concerns with government agencies.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Namibia Public Workers Union
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Namibia Public Workers Union has raised concerns about the impact on staff
“The Namibia Public Workers Union has also raised concerns about the impact on staff.”
Fisheries agency unsupervised for six monthsThe Namibian
Namibia Public Workers Union requested ACC investigation via general secretary Petrus Nevonga on 28 February
“The ACC conducted a probe after a request from Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) general secretary Petrus Nevonga on 28 February this year.”
ACC clears pathology institute executives of criminal intentThe John Meinert Street and Hosea Kutako Drive intersection in Windhoek West recorded 68 crashes between 2023 and 2026, making it the city's most accident-prone junction. The top three intersections collectively recorded 177 crashes during the period, with high traffic volume and driver non-compliance with traffic rules cited as contributing factors.
9 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The John Meinert Street and Hosea Kutako Drive intersection in Windhoek West recorded 68 crashes between 2023 and 2026, making it the city's most accident-prone junction. The top three intersections collectively recorded 177 crashes during the period, with high traffic volume and driver non-compliance with traffic rules cited as contributing factors.
9 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and the Namibia Public Workers Union signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 12 August 2026 providing for a five percent wage increase for employees in the bargaining unit for the 2026/2027 financial year, following wage negotiations concluded on 27 July 2026.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
Enrolled nurses have submitted to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare a request for salary scale promotion from grade 10, arguing their qualifications, responsibilities, and workplace risks are not reflected in their current pay, particularly compared to other civil servants with similar training.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Public Workers Union has concluded a wage agreement with the Namibia Qualifications Authority for the 2026/27 financial year, providing a 7% increase in basic salaries effective 1 April, and raising housing allowance from 31% to 33% of basic salaries.
16 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Government lawyers are accused of mishandling health-related legal cases and potentially sharing settlement payouts with senior ministry officials and claimants' lawyers. Between 2019 and 2024, the health ministry spent N$14.7m on medical claims, with about N$5.5m spent over the past year, amid delays in a nationwide medico-legal training programme.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Workers at Keetmanshoop municipality, represented by NAPWU, handed over a petition calling for the removal of acting CEO Desiree Boois, accusing her of poor management, intimidation, and financial mismanagement. They have threatened to escalate their grievances to urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa if their demands are not addressed.
25 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Environmental health practitioners and assistants across Namibia have petitioned the ministry of health and social services to review and upgrade their profession's grading structure, arguing that their qualifications and responsibilities are not adequately reflected in the current public service framework. The practitioners, who hold honours degrees and diplomas respectively, perform essential public health functions including food safety, water quality monitoring, sanitation, waste management, vector control, and disease surveillance.
16 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The City of Windhoek overspent nearly N$20 million on employee salaries in 2024 after implementing a 5% pay increase negotiated with the Namibia Public Workers Union, despite ministerial approval being limited to 3%, the auditor general found. The issue recurred from previous years, with employee costs overstated by N$72.2 million in 2023 and N$24.1 million in 2022.
4 June 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations has ordered civil servants to reapply for Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme benefits by end of August following reforms to the scheme's operations. Trade unions have criticized the lack of consultation and warned that reported increases in medical aid contributions could severely impact civil servants' finances.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's board has appointed veteran journalist Menesia Muinjo as the new director general while extending former director general Stanley Similo's contract for a three-month handover period, though the board clarified that Similo will not be involved in operations. The decision has drawn criticism from the Namibia Public Workers Union, which argues that Muinjo has sufficient institutional knowledge and that paying two directors general simultaneously is unnecessary.
6 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian public servants will stage a nationwide work pause on 20 March to protest a five percent salary increase and a presidential directive requiring them to use public health facilities. Teachers Union of Namibia Secretary General Mahongora Kavihuha said the action aims to highlight economic hardship and deliver petitions to regional governors and State House, while unions involved in wage negotiations face potential legal action.
12 March 2026 · Informanté →
Prime Minister Dr Elijah Ngurare has inaugurated a new governance committee for the Public Service Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) to oversee implementation of reforms, including mandatory use of public hospitals by civil servants and alignment with the government's Universal Health Coverage objectives. The committee, drawn from government agencies, trade unions, and regulators, replaces the previous model to improve oversight, accountability, and healthcare sustainability.
10 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Otjiwarongo Municipality has failed to implement a 2014 salary directive or comply with a Labour Court order to pay over N$30 million in back pay owed to 20 employees, despite the ruling last year. The dispute arose after management ignored a ministry instruction to adjust C4-band employees' salaries by N$7,475 and instead gave them only N$2,000 in adjustments while promoting D-band staff, prompting workers to take the case to court in 2021.
5 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The government will pay 100% of medical aid for civil servants from 1 April, removing a 5% levy previously charged to service providers, while civil servants and senior officials must use public hospitals. The change follows an agreement between public sector unions and the Cabinet, and includes salary increments of 5% for most grades effective 1 April this year, with a further 5% increase from 2027.
27 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian government, Napwu, and Nantu have signed a salary adjustment agreement granting civil servants a flat N$700 monthly increase for grades 14–15 in 2026/27 and 5% increases for grades 13–1 across both 2026/27 and 2027/28, along with a 7% transport adjustment and removal of the 5% medical aid levy.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Elifas Dingara, a Swapo lawmaker with a 15-year parliamentary career, has announced his resignation from the National Assembly effective end of month to focus on farming in Kavango East. He said his departure aims to allow his successor Christine Haindaka to serve nearly a full term and build institutional knowledge, describing it as deliberate succession planning rather than leaving the next generation to fight for opportunity.
25 February 2026 · New Era →
The City of Windhoek has received a disclaimer of opinion from Auditor General Junias Kandjeke due to insufficient audit evidence and inadequate accounting records. The audit identified weaknesses in internal controls, non-compliance with financial regulations including overstated employee costs, and systemic failures in record-keeping and documentation.
25 February 2026 · New Era →
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 →