Company
registration and labour costs
In Namibia, the companies Act, 1973 (No. 61 of
1973) requires that all companies register with
the Registrar of Companies at the Ministry of
Trade and Industry. The Act applies to both Namibian
and foreign incorporated companies trading through
a local branch.
By
law the registration of a company is required
to be done by a company lawyer or an accountant.
Close corporations and public/private limited
companies are to be registered with the Ministry
of Trade and Industry.
The
average registration fees payable to register
the various types of enterprise are as follows:
Close corporations: N$ 1,150 – 2,000
Public/private limited companies: N$ 4,000 – 5,500
Sole proprietorship: N$ 50 – 100
Non-Namibians
are required to apply for a work permit if they
wish to work in Namibia. The costs involved are
as follows:
Work permit: N$ 450
Work visa: N$ 138
Permanent residence permit: N$ 7 319
Temporary residence permit: N$ 276
Handling fee: N$ 50
Monthly
salaries in Namibia vary according to location
and economic sector. The following list provides
an insight into the current averages that apply:
Managerial: N$ 20 000 – 35 000
Non executive staff: N$ 10 500 – 22 000
Skilled labourers: N$ 7 000 – 16 000
Semi-skilled labourers: N$ 2 600 – 5 000
Domestic workers: N$ 700 – 1 200
Development
costs and monthly charges
1.
Cost of undeveloped industrial land in Keetmanshoop
and Lüderitz:
Keetmanshoop: N$ 10/m²
Lüderitz: Negotiable
2.
Average rental of office and industrial space
at Keetmanshoop and Lüderitz:
Keetmanshoop: Office: N$ 35 – 50/m²
Industrial: N$: 22 – 30/m²
Lüderitz:
Office: N$ 50 – 60/m²
Industrial: 40 – 45/m²
3.
Cost of potable water
Keetmanshoop:
Household consumption: Monthly basic charge of
NS 33.00 + N$ 5.33/m³
Commercial consumption: Monthly basic charge of
N$ 126.00 + N$ 6.00/m³
Lüderitz:
Household consumption: Monthly basic charge of
NS 14.85 + N$ 6.71/m³
Commercial consumption: Monthly basic charge of
N$ 126.00 + N$ 6.71/m³
4.
Cost of electricity
Keetmanshoop: Household consumption: Basic unit
charge of N$ 0.56 + N$ 50.00/month
Commercial consumption: Basic unit charge of N$
0.56 + N$ 145.00/month
Lüderitz: Household consumption: Basic unit
charge of N$ 0.51 + N$ 22.80 – 96 .70/month
Commercial consumption:
Basic unit charge of N$ 0.51 + N$ 325.00/month
Conditions
of employment in the Namibian labour market
Over
the last few years, mainly because of the development
experienced within the mining, fishing, agriculture
and tourism sectors, the Karas Region has benefited
from an influx of professionally skilled workers.
In addition, the Region has a large potential
workforce to the low to medium skills range.
Industrial
relations between employers, employees and trade
unions are regulated by the Labour Act, 1992 (No.
6 of 1992), which stipulates the following:
Working
hours
Normal working hours should not exceed 45 hours
per week.
The maximum working day is 9 hours for a 5-day
week and 7.5 hours for a 6-day week.
A maximum of 2 days a week and 9 hours a day applies
to casual workers.
As regards overtime, a maximum of 3 hours a day
or 10 hours a week applies.
Overtime rates are 1.5 times the hourly rate on
normal working days, and double the hourly rate
on Sundays and public holidays.
Leave
The paid annual leave entitlement is 24 consecutive
days, plus 8 public holidays.
The annual sick leave entitlement after 12 months’
employment is 30 working days for those on a 5-day
week and 36 working days for those on a 6-day
week. Employees are obliged to provide a medical
certificate in certain cases.
As regards maternity leave, female employees are
entitled to 4 weeks before and at least 8 weeks
after their confinement, provided they have at
least 12 months’ service.
