WINDHOEK, Sept. 22 (Xinhua/GNA) – The Namibian government on Tuesday, announced an expansion of its national social safety nets, raising benefit pay-outs managed by the Social Security Commission (SSC) across maternity, sick leave, disability, and death funds.
The SSC is a public entity, established under the Social Security Act 34 of 1994, and it aims to provide a foundation of social protection for Namibian workers and their dependents.
Minister of Justice and Labor Relations, Wise Immanuel, announced that, effective Oct. 1, maternity benefits will increase from 15,000 Namibian dollars (about 925 U.S. dollars) to 20,000 Namibian dollars.
Sick leave benefits will increase from 11,250 to 15,000 Namibian dollars for the first 12 months and from 9,750 to 13,000 Namibian dollars for the last 12 months.
Death, retirement and disability benefits will each increase from 12,000 to 15,000 Namibian dollars, he noted.
The upward adjustments come as fresh economic data point to continued price pressures in Namibia.
According to a report by the Namibia Statistics Agency released on Sept. 10, the country’s annual inflation rate climbed to 5 percent in August, its highest level since February 2024.
GNA