COUNTRY

Employment contracts in Namibia are deemed to be for an indefinite term unless the employer has a reason to hire an employee for a fixed term. Written agreements must contain the workplace details, salary, employer and employee identification, the nature of the job, working hours, the date of commencement of the work, and the end date if for a fixed term. Employment contracts must be in the employee's local language.

The duration of a fixed-term contract is determined by agreement between the employee and employer or a collective agreement.

The standard work period in Namibia is 45 hours a week and nine hours per day when employees work from five or fewer days a week, or eight hours a day if they work more than five days a week. Overtime is limited to three hours a day or 10 hours a week and paid at least one and half times (150%) of the employee’s hourly wage or double (200%) on Sunday or a public holiday. Employers pay an additional 6% over the employee’s hourly salary, excluding overtime, for work performed between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Employees are entitled to at least 30 days of sick leave in Namibia if the employee works five days during a week, or 36 days if the employee works six days a week, after 36 months of service. During the first year of work, employees accrue one day of sick leave for every 26 days worked.

Female employees receive 14 weeks of maternity leave in Namibia after six months of service. Generally, four weeks of leave is taken before the due date and the remainder is taken after the birth. Maternity leave can be extended by a month if there is an illness or complication relating to the pregnancy. The employer pays for a portion of the maternity leave pay. There is no statutory paternity leave.

Collective agreements in different sectors set minimum wages. There is no official minimum wage rate in Namibia, except for domestic workers. Bonuses are not required but some employers pay them.

Employees are entitled to between four and 21 days of paid leave a year in Namibia, based on the number of days worked in a week.

In Namibia, the public holidays are:

• New Year

• Independence Day

• Good Friday

• Easter Monday

• Workers' Day

• Cassinga Day

• Africa Day

• Ascension Day

• Heroes' Day

• Day of the Namibian Women and International Human Rights Day

• Christmas Day

• Family Day

Namibia has a public healthcare system. Most employers offer private health insurance.

Employers and employees can terminate an employment contract in Namibia. An employer is prohibited from dismissing an employee without a valid and fair reason and must follow a fair procedure. The notice period is between one day and one month, depending on the employee's length of service.

When terminating an employee, the employer must pay them for work done before the termination notice, annual leave entitlements, paid time off for Sunday work or public holiday (if applicable), severance pay (if applicable) and transport allowance (if applicable). Severance pay is equal to at least one week’s remuneration for each year of continuous service with the employer, after 12 months of uninterrupted service.