Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) have signed a substantive wage agreement for the 2024 financial year.
As part of the new agreement, NBL will effect a salary increase of 7.5% on basic salaries, applicable to all bargaining unit employees for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 and 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2024, respectively.
“As we all know, from a social point of view, everyone is affected by the rising cost of living. The workers are therefore grateful for the increase they will receive, and NAFAU is proud to have facilitated these negotiations with the gallant Shop Stewards who made sure that the demands of the workers are met to ensure that their co-workers get their increase on time. It is, therefore, a pleasure for NAFAU to appreciate NBL Management, and this should also serve as a good example for other employers to emulate,” said NAFAU’s Regional Coordinator, Simon Muukapo.
The brewer said it will continue with the current incentive scheme that will enable employees in the bargaining unit to earn an additional bonus equal to a monthly salary during the financial year.
“My gratitude goes out to all the parties that were involved in the process, which has resulted in ensuring that all bargaining unit employees of NBL will receive their increases with this month-end payroll. I, therefore, would like to wholeheartedly thank the negotiation team from the union and the business for the mutually beneficial consensus reached for the interest of our employees and the company,” NBL Managing Director, Peter Simons said.
Simons said the latest wage agreement paves the way for NBL to continue focusing on its business performance to further deliver on its mandate and annual business plan for the benefit of its shareholders, employees, customers, and consumers, respectively.
This comes as Heineken NV, the Dutch brewing company, in April completed its acquisition of a 50.01% stake in NBL, following a conditional approval by the Namibia Competition Commission, giving it controlling shareholding in the country’s biggest brewer.
