WAGES and benefits negotiations between the Bank Workers Union of Namibia (Bawon) and Standard Bank Namibia for the 2017/2018 financial year have reached a deadlock.
The two negotiating parties declared a deadlock after the bank refused to agree to a proposed 8% wage increase by the union.
Bawon’s national coordinator Chiteta Kaleji told a media conference on Tuesday that the union proposed an 8% basic salary increase across the board. However, Standard Bank would only settle for 7%.
The union further asked for transport and rental (housing) allowances to be increased to N$350 and N$1 200, respectively.
However, the bank, in turn, proposed an increase from N$231 to N$245 for transport, and an increase from N$577.50 to N$635 for the rental allowance.
Standard Bank also maintained the current contribution split of 70% on medical aid, while the remaining 30% would be paid by the employees on the basis that this benefit is well-aligned to the market.
Kaleji said as a result of the deadlock between the two negotiating bodies, a notice of dispute of interest was filed with the Office of the Labour Commissioner on 2 February 2018.
Source: namibian.com.na
