Swakop Uranium Employees Petition for Improved Benefits Amid Exemption Renewal

Strategic Insights -

Employees at Swakop Uranium, represented by the Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN), have expressed dissatisfaction with the continuous operations (ContOps) exemption, citing a lack of transparency, unfair compensation, and non-compliance with labour laws. The union's petition calls for improved benefits, including compliance with overtime, rest periods, and sick leave provisions, as well as adjustments to travel schedules or payment for required on-site time before shifts begin.

Key Takeaways:

  • The petition, read by MUN branch chairperson Rudolf Kahingungua, expressed dissatisfaction with the recent consultations on the exemption application, citing a lack of transparency and meaningful engagement between the company and employees.
  • Workers demanded compliance with provisions of the Labour Act on overtime, rest periods, and sick leave, as well as adjustments to travel schedules or payment for required on-site time before shifts begin.
  • The union's core demands included improved benefits, legal compliance, and transparent consultation, with the commitment to supporting operational continuity conditional on meeting these demands.
  • Swakop Uranium maintains that the continuous shift arrangement is a designed operational model, not a benefit requiring renegotiation every three years.
  • The company has indeed provided some benefits, including salary increments ranging from 5.5% to 7% in the past five years, above the average inflation rate of 3.5%, and annual business performance bonuses of around N.dollars 50,000.

Statistics:

  • The average monthly salary of a plant operator at Swakop Uranium is N.dollars 32,000 (cost to company), excluding ContOps allowances and overtime of about N.dollars 8,600.
  • Salary increments in the past five years have ranged from 5.5% to 7%, above the average inflation rate of 3.5%
  • Business performance bonuses paid annually in January amount to around N.dollars 50,000.
  • The ContOps exemption, which expired on 08 August 2025, is a legal requirement for all continuous operating mines and must be renewed through the Ministry of Labour.

Sources:

  • NAMPA article, 15 Aug 2025 (no publication date)
  • Swakop Uranium response, 15 Aug 2025 (no publication date)