THOUGHT
FOR THE WEEK: LOOK BEYOND THE DIFFERENCES AND FIND A WAY TO WALK THE PATH
TOGETHER
In
today’s newsletter
·
Business umbrella
organisation planned
·
Wage survey report 2012
·
Regional
Seminar on the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement
·
FA and other news
Business umbrella organisation planned
An
umbrella organisation which provisionally is known as “Business Namibia” is in
a planning phase under the leadership of Adv Rukoro of the Namibia Employers
Federation (NEF). A first meeting was held on Wednesday, November 14 in
Windhoek where the aims were formulated as follows –
·
a united single voice of the private sector to address
Government and Local Authorities on cross-cutting issues
·
with a view to assisting and advising Government on improving
the economy and addressing issues of national interest such as unemployment,
skills development and increasing trade
Business
Namibia will be A-political organisation and if staff is employed, it will be
done strictly on merits. The activities will be totally transparent and it will
act without fear.
The
Governing body will consist of “The Council of Namibian Business” where each
organisation retains its own individuality. Some factors which are seriously
considered are inter alia funding, Head Office structure, the Constitution and
the definition of members.
The
NAU will in due course get the mandate from the Executive Council via e-mail
correspondence to continue as participating party in the establishment of this
umbrella organisation.
Wage survey report 2012
The final report of the
bi-annual wage survey of the Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) for the
2011/2012 financial year has been concluded and introduced to the media
yesterday. The aim is to reflect reliable statistical information with regard
to labour in the commercial agricultural sector for decision takers such as the
AEA management, individual agricultural employers and other role players such
as the Ministry of Labour, the NEF and the NNFU.
Various aspects of the
remuneration structure and labour management of farm workers were investigated
and analysed on national and regional level. The analysation of data will still
be further fractioned up to Farmers Association level and will be made
available to the various Farmers Association early next year.
The average monthly monetary
remuneration of farm workers (cash and rations) increased with 12% up to N$1
454,00 since the 2010 survey. The cash salary is on average N$964,00 and the
value of the rations N$490,00. This is 69% higher than the minimum wage for
farm workers which is currently N$860,00. The average total remuneration packet
per farm wokers whereby the value of the fringe benefits is included is N$2
798,00 per month. This represents an increase of 11% against the 2010 survey.
The fringe benefits include housing, free transport of school children to
schools, free transport for farm workers and their dependants to clinics and
hospitals as well as free keeping of cattle and other animals such as horses
and donkeys.
92% of the participants
confirmed that they also pay annual bonusses to their workers. The average
value thereof is N$1 138,00 per worker. 98% of the participants indicated that
their workers get salary increases.
Generally the labour sector in
the commercial agricultural area is healthy and we would like to thank
agricultural employers. There are more interesting and informative statistics
in this report. Click here for more information: Wage Survey 2012
Regional Seminar on the EU-SADC Economic
Partnership Agreement
The Manager: Research and Development, Wallie Roux, attended a Regional
Seminar on the European Union (EU) – Southern African Development Community
(SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The Seminar, referred to as a “Regional EPA Stocktaking”, took place in
Gaborone, Botswana, on 14 and 15 November 2012.
The Seminar was the last in a series sponsored by
the European Commission (EC) with the aim to report on the state of play of the
EPA negotiations and to explain the way forward towards the finalisation of the
agreement. That is why the EC specifically invited representatives from the
private sector in the SADC-EPA member countries to attend these seminars.
The programme for this last Seminar covered a wide
range of topics, including inter alia an update on the negotiations, market
access under the EPA, intra regional trade, tools and space to grow businesses,
regional integration, trade in agriculture (including standards) and tools to
assist exporters. The Seminar was closed
with a look at the way forward and what is still needed to conclude the
agreement.
Important aspects for agriculture included:
- The EC is
confident that the agreement could be concluded during 2013.
- The EC is prepared to increase
market access for South Africa despite the country being treated differently in
this regard from the rest of the SADC-EPA member states.
- One of
the aims of the EPA is to promote agricultural value-adding.
- The EPA contains four broad
categories of measures to protect the regional markets, namely infant industry
protection, safeguard measures (multilateral and bilateral), export duties and
measures to ensure food security.
- Exports to the EU are not only
subjected to commodity standards (like food safety and hygiene), but could also
be subjected to private standards (ethical and environmental concerns). The latter is a way of producers to
communicate directly with consumers regarding the way their products were
produced, while also assisting producers to move up the value-chain.
- One of the topics still to be
finalised is the rules of origin (including cumulation). These are rules to determine whether a
product(s) qualifies as originating from a specific country and as such,
whether it qualifies for preferences under the EPA when exported to the EU. Cumulation is where certain inputs are imported
from another country to manufacture or produce a local product. Currently there
are certain product groups where the other SADC-EPA member states may not
cumulate with South Africa.
- The SADC-EPA member states
remain committed to sign the agreement once the outstanding issues are resolved
to the mutual benefit of the parties.
The NAU would like to thank the EC for the opportunity to attend these
seminars.
Clinics in Omaheke and areas at the Botswana border
The Ministry of Health and Social Services announced that
they will hold clinics for especially children in Omaheke and areas at the
Botswana border. Cross-border activities will also take place and in this
regard an agreement was reached with Botswana. These clinics will be held from
November 26 – 30 at inter alia Omitara, Witvlei, Botswana border post and
adjacent areas, Drimiopsis and adjacent farms, including the informal
settlement areas in Gobabis. The Ministry has appealed to farmers in these area
to open their gates during these days. Enquiries and complaints can be
addressed to the following persons from the Ministry of Health: Mrs Kaune, Tel
081 2590668 or Mrs E Smith, Tel 081 2260600.
Power interruptions
NamPower has announced the following power interruptions:
On December 2 from 07:00 – 19:00: the whole of Grootfontein town network (MTC
towers, post office, hospitals, schools, Police station, shopping centres,
filling stations, hotels and all residential areas); all clients of the Uitkoms
network (MTC Uitkoms tower and all farms); all clients of the Maria Bron
network (St Andrews, Maria Bron Roman Catholic School and all farms); the whole
of Tsumeb town network (MTC towers, post office, hospital, schools, Police
station, shopping centres, filling stations, hotels and all residential areas);
all clients of the Mannheim network (Tsintsabis, Ludwigshaven plots, Tamboti
Lodge, Tsumeb Crusher, Otjikoto Med-Wave and all farms).
We say thank you
The Versfeld family and Schieschmidt family would like to
thank all Farmers Association members, neighbours, friends and farm workers
(from far and near) for their help and time with the veld fires on Farms
Devonby and Poorty on Saturday, November 10, 2012.
With the past two months veld fires cooperation and
unselfish help is of utmost importance. Your help and assistance is really
appreciated. W Versfeld and W Schierschmidt families: Gobabis.
FA and other news
Karibib FA is holding a meeting on November 17 at 17:00 at
Kaltenhausen. For further details contact Mrs Gladis, Tel 061 248480, helmut@hemconamibia.com.na.
Sonop FA is holding a member meeting and
„fun day“ on November 17 at 14:00 at Farm Frauenhofen. Clay pigeon schooting
and Jukskei is inter alia offered and the day is concluded with a braai. For
further details contact Lizelle Barnard, Tel 062 568106, 081 2342925, lizelle1@iway.na.
The Namibia centre for Holistic Management in cooperation with the Integrated Rural Development and Nature
Conservation (IRDNC) offers a course under the theme: „A different perspective on understanding animal
nutrition for optimal livestock production”. The course is offered on November
21 & 22 at the Polytechnic Hotel School, c/o Beethoven & Brahms Str,
Windhoek West. The course starts at 14:00 on November 21 and ends at 17:00 on
November 22. The costs are N$750 per person whereby a lunch, refreshments and
the course material is included. Please register before November 16 with Wiebke
Volkmann, Tel 081 1270081, wiebke@mweb.com.na.
Maltahöhe FA is holding a meeting and year
end function on November 21 at 10:00 at Farm Burgsdorf of the Rossouw family.
Guest speakers are Mr Maans Dreyer and Messrs Böhme and Claassens from Meatco.
During the meeting a new management will be elected. For further details
contact Crhistian Otto, Tel 063 293512, ottojagd@iway.na.
The SA
Hunters and Game Conservation Association is holding an inaugural meeting
of a Namibian Branch of the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association. This
meeting will be held in Windhoek on November 26 at 19:00 at „the Bistro“, 1
Parsival Str, Windhoek (opposite Ferreiras Garden Centre) and in Gobabis on
November 28 at 19:00 at the Golf Club and further meetings country wide are
planned. All hunters, hunting farm owners, nature lovers, traders and
businesses in the hunting- and arms trade as well as all interested parties are
welcome. For further details and to register contact Lourens Pretorius, Tel 062
5622351, 081 3602990, jazalo@mtcmobile.com.na or Uys Prinsloo, Tel 061
237162, 081 1281240, tjanam@iway.na.
Dordabis FA is holding a member meeting on
November 22 at 10:00 at Farm Lauwater-Ost of Jimmy and Erika Braun. For further
details contact Mrs Christine Romeis, Tel 061 231230, cwromeis@iway.na.
Dr
Lichtenberg again
offers a K.I. course at the Sandveld
Research Farm on 27, 28 and 29 November. For further information please contact
Gobabis Veearts Praktyk, Tel 062 563877, 062 563991, gobavet@iwyay.na.
Steinhausen
FA is holding
its Annual General Meeting and year end function on December 8 at 16:00 at the
FA hall at Farm Steinhausen. Further details from Mayke Rumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.na.
Hoërand FA is holding an Old Years dance on December 29 at 19:00 at the FA hall at
Farm Stubbenkamer, Maltahöhe district. Registration is N$100 per person for
adults, N$50 for children under 12 years and entrance for pre-school children
is free of charge. Dinner and dance is included in the registration fee and further
details can be obtained from Antoinette Burger, Tel 081 2842744, antoiburger@gmail.com or MarykaTruter, Tel 081 2624146, hardegat@iway.na.
Hochfeld FA is holding its New Year party
on December 31 at 19:00 at the Hochfeld Lodge. The costs are N$100 for adults,
N$50 for children from 12 – 18 years and free of charge for children under the
age of 12 years. Dinner and dance are included in the registration. For further
details contact Marina von Dewitz, Tel 062 549026, 081 2304100, marinavondewith@gmail.com or Deoné Schlechter, Tel 062
549108, 081 3084931, deone@iway.na.
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Exchange Rate
NAD (10 - 16 November 2012)
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November
|
EURO
|
USD
|
POUND
|
PULA
|
|
Saturday
|
10
|
11.065
|
8.709
|
13.844
|
1.093
|
|
Sunday
|
11
|
11.068
|
8.709
|
13.844
|
1.093
|
|
Monday
|
12
|
11.105
|
8.729
|
13.857
|
1.099
|
|
Tuesday
|
13
|
11.164
|
8.779
|
13.946
|
1.103
|
|
Wednesday
|
14
|
11.332
|
8.892
|
14.094
|
1.108
|
|
Thursday
|
15
|
11.413
|
8.929
|
14.164
|
1.110
|
|
Friday
|
16
|
11.311
|
8.881
|
14.086
|
1.108
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