Allexer Namundjebo
The Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) and the Namibia Security Labour Forum (NSLF) have called on the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) and other public entities to stop awarding tenders to security companies that violate the newly gazetted wage laws.
Their call was made during the official launch of the collective agreement for the security industry, now law under government gazette 8562.
The agreement sets a phased national minimum wage for security guards starting at N$13.50 per hour from 15 January 2025, increasing to N$16.00 in 2026 and N$18.00 in 2027.
“We are here to officially present the collective agreement for the Security Industry of Namibia, a hard-won document that sets a new minimum wage and brings structure, fairness, and legal certainty to an industry too long neglected,” said Andreas Hausiku, PSUN head of security.
Hausiku said security companies bidding below N$30.30 per hour cannot legally or financially meet all statutory obligations.
These include wages, PAYE, Social Security, leave benefits, Sunday and public holiday premiums, and operational costs.
“It is not financially or legally possible to run a security company and comply with all statutory obligations by tendering below N$30.30 per hour. That amount must cover the minimum wage, PAYE, Social Security, leave provisions, Sunday and public holiday premiums, and operational costs like uniforms and optional transport,” said Hausiku.
He said awarding tenders to companies that do not meet this standard undermines the collective agreement and enables wage exploitation.
“Paying poverty wages while bidding for government work is unethical, illegal, and disgraceful,” he said. “Enforcement must start now.”
Eben de Klerk, NSLF legal advisor, said procurement processes must be aligned with the law.
“If a company cannot meet the legal obligations at its proposed hourly rate, it should not qualify for public contracts. The law must not be optional,” he said.
Security guards are often stationed at schools, hospitals, banks, ministries, and homes.
Many of them face low pay, lack of formal contracts, no payslips, and unpaid overtime.
The absence of enforcement has allowed some companies, particularly those with state-funded contracts, to avoid compliance.
Hausiku also criticised the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security for failing to implement regulations under the Security Enterprises and Security Officers Act (Act 19) of 1998.
The law, passed more than 30 years ago, remains without regulations.
“Yes, you heard that right. Three decades. No regulations. No teeth. No accountability,” said Hausiku.
“What kind of country passes a law to protect the public but then refuses to implement it?”
He said the result is an unregulated sector with no licensing standards, no accreditation for training institutions, no oversight on weapons handling, and no system for disciplinary action or compliance checks.
This gap, he warned, allows unregulated operators to undercut compliant businesses and exploit workers.
“We demand that our security officers, who protect banks, ministries, schools, hospitals, and homes, be treated as professionals. Now we need the ministry to show up,” said Hausiku.
PSUN and NSLF said they will continue to monitor the sector and raise public concerns until there is stronger enforcement.
They urged all government institutions, state-owned enterprises, and private clients to uphold the terms of the Collective Agreement in all security contracts.
Following the approval of the new minimum wage, some security guards have protested after not receiving the legally required pay.
Reports indicate that several employers, including those with government contracts, have failed to comply.
The NSLF, which represents security employers and employees, said it remains concerned about the poor enforcement of wage regulations.
Many guards have taken to the streets, demanding that companies respect the new law.
