Swakop Uranium and Union Discuss Labour Conditions Amid Workers’ Demands

Swakop Uranium and Union Discuss Labour Conditions Amid Workers’ Demands. Swakop Uranium has reaffirmed its openness to dialogue with the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) following a peaceful demonstration by employees seeking improvements to their current shift arrangements and benefits.

The workers, represented by MUN, are calling for an upgraded continuous operations (Contops) salary package, the retention of established shift patterns used across Namibia’s mining sector, and the reinstatement of associated benefits.

In a statement, Swakop Uranium’s Head of Department, Winnie Mukupuki, stressed that the company’s existing conditions remain highly competitive. The Contops package includes free transport, monthly shift allowances, daily handover allowances, night and Sunday premiums, along with annual salary increases and bonuses agreed upon through collective bargaining. Mukupuki highlighted that over the past five years, basic salaries rose by between 5.5% and 7% annually, outpacing average consumer inflation.

MUN Secretary General George Ampweya countered that regular reviews are essential to ensure workers’ compensation, health, and safety standards keep pace with economic realities. He emphasized that workers keeping operations running around the clock deserve modernized benefits, especially given uranium price improvements and stronger production performance.

Ampweya further rejected delaying discussions until scheduled wage talks in November 2025, noting that the exemption governing shift patterns expired on 8 August 2025. “Sustainability cannot come at the expense of fair compensation,” he said.

Mukupuki responded that Swakop Uranium is prepared to reapply for renewal of the current shift system and benefits package with the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations. She reiterated the company’s position that wage-related negotiations should remain aligned with established collective bargaining processes.

Swakop Uranium operates the Husab Uranium Mine, Namibia’s largest mining employer, with over 1,650 permanent staff and 2,200 contractors.