Public Servants Salary Increase in Namibia: 2026–2028 Guide
Quick answer: Under a two-year deal signed in February 2026 with NAPWU and NANTU, public servants on grades 13 to 1 received a 5% basic salary increase from 1 April 2026, while grades 14 and 15 received a flat N$700 (Namibian dollars) a month. All grades get a further 5% from 1 April 2027.
Key takeaways
The agreement between government, the Namibia National Teachers' Union (NANTU) and the Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) covers the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years.
Staff on grades 13 to 1 received a 5% rise in basic salary on 1 April 2026, and staff on grades 14 and 15 received a flat N$700 per month.
A second 5% increase for grades 15 to 1, plus a 7% transport allowance rise for staff below management level, is due on 1 April 2027.
Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) contributions went up, while NAPWU announced that the 5% co-payment for using health services will be removed.
A job evaluation and grading (JEG) review of all public service job categories is starting and is expected to take about three years.
Last updated: 7 October 2026
If you work for a ministry, a regional office or a government school, the public servants salary increase in Namibia agreed earlier this year should already be reflected in your payslip, and a second step is coming in April 2027. This guide sets out exactly who gets what, when each change applies, what happened to medical aid and allowances, and how the coming review of job grades could affect your pay in the longer term.
How much is the public servants salary increase in Namibia?
Civil servants on grades 13 to 1 received 5% on their basic salary from 1 April 2026. Staff on grades 14 and 15 received a fixed N$700 (Namibian dollars) a month instead of a percentage.
The deal was negotiated between government and two unions: the Namibia National Teachers' Union (NANTU) and the Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU). According to NBC News, it covers two financial years, 2026/27 and 2027/28. The Namibian reports that the collective agreement was signed in February 2026.
Here is the timeline in one place:
1 April 2026 (2026/27): 5% on basic salary for grades 13 to 1; flat N$700 per month for grades 14 and 15.
1 April 2027 (2027/28): a further 5% on basic salary for all staff on grades 15 to 1.
1 April 2027: a 7% increase in transport allowances for staff members below management level.
Why do grades 14 and 15 get a flat amount instead of 5%?
The agreement simply sets two different methods for the first year: a percentage for grades 13 to 1 and a fixed monthly sum for grades 14 and 15. In the second year, everyone from grade 15 to grade 1 moves onto the same 5% rule.
A flat amount means every worker on grades 14 and 15 gets the same N$700 regardless of where they sit on the scale. A percentage grows with your basic salary, so staff with a higher basic salary gain more in Namibian dollar terms. If you are unsure which grade you are on, your appointment letter and your payslip both show it.
As a purely illustrative calculation (not an official figure), a staff member earning a basic salary of N$10,000 a month would see 5% add N$500 a month before tax. Remember that the percentage applies to basic salary only, not to allowances.
What changed for PSEMAS and allowances?
Medical aid contributions rose under both PSEMAS options, but the 5% co-payment for using health services is set to go. NAPWU General Secretary Petrus Nevonga announced that the co-payment will be removed, NBC News reported.
Higher option: NBC News quoted the main-member contribution rising from N$240 to N$500 a month, and dependants from N$120 to N$240.
Standard option: contributions for main members and dependants also went up. Check your recent payslip, or ask your human resources office, for the exact deduction that applies to you.
Transport allowance: no transport rise came with the April 2026 step; the 7% increase for staff below management level takes effect on 1 April 2027.
Because contributions rose while basic pay also rose, your net gain depends on your grade, your option and how many dependants you register. Compare a payslip from before and after each change to see the real difference.
Is the increase above inflation?
Government says yes. Cabinet Secretary Emilia Mkusa, speaking at the signing, said the 5% adjustment for grades 13 to 1 was set above an inflation rate of 3%.
She said government believes "the agreed salary adjustment will positively impact the disposable income of public servants", according to NBC News. Whether you feel better off will depend on your own costs, including the higher medical aid deductions described above.
Who is covered by the agreement?
The deal applies to staff employed in the public service on grades 15 to 1, which includes teachers represented by NANTU.
The public service is large. According to the Public Service Commission (PSC), as reported by The Brief, the workforce reached 118,936 employees as at 31 December 2025, up from roughly 107,000 civil servants on the wage bill in 2024. Teachers are a significant group: the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture says Namibia has 36,336 educators in 2,081 schools across all 14 regions.
What is the job evaluation and grading (JEG) review?
It is a review of every public service job category to test whether current grades still match the qualifications, skills and responsibilities of each post. The February agreement committed government and the unions to it, The Namibian reports.
Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) spokesperson Rhingo Mutambo told The Namibian that the evaluation begins in 2026 and should run for roughly three years, though government would like it done sooner. Recommendations will go to the PSC and the prime minister for approval before anything changes.
The review matters because grade, not just the annual percentage, decides your long-term earnings. Two groups have already raised concerns:
Enrolled nurses: in a submission dated 27 June to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, they asked to move up from salary scale grade 10. They point out that educators with diploma qualifications at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 6 sit on grade 9. The OPM says no separate nurses' task force exists and that nurses will be assessed with every other category.
Technical and media staff: the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) said posts such as sound technicians, photographers, graphic designers and videographers remain on grades nine and eleven, according to The Brief.
The Brief also reports that Joyce Mukubi, Deputy Executive Director in the Department of Public Service Management, confirmed an advanced Cabinet submission on reviewing job categories.
Will applying for government jobs change too?
Possibly. The PSC is exploring digital recruitment so that applicants could submit applications electronically instead of handing in paper documents, The Brief reports.
For now, government vacancies are still processed manually. Until an online system is officially launched, follow the instructions in each vacancy circular, submit certified copies where asked, and never pay anyone to "fast-track" a government application.
What this means for you
If you are already a public servant, the first step of the increase took effect on 1 April 2026 and the next one is due in April 2027. If you are job hunting, the grade printed on a vacancy advert is the best guide to pay, and it may shift after the JEG review.
Check your grade on your payslip or appointment letter.
Compare payslips from March and April 2026 to confirm the 5% or N$700 was applied correctly.
Review your PSEMAS deduction and your registered dependants.
Raise errors early with your human resources office or your union representative.
Watch for JEG updates, which the OPM says will be announced through the media once approved.
Common mistakes to avoid
Applying the 5% to your total package: it applies to basic salary only.
Expecting a transport allowance rise before April 2027.
Assuming grades will change soon: the JEG review is expected to take years, not months.
Trusting social media "salary scale" images that do not come from government or your union.
Related reading on Jobsiz: Minimum Wage Namibia 2026: Hourly Rates and Monthly Pay, Retrenchment Package in Namibia: What Workers Are Owed and Graduate Internship Allowance Namibia: N$3,700 Plan.
Frequently asked questions
When did the 2026 civil servants salary increase start in Namibia?
It took effect on 1 April 2026, the start of the 2026/27 financial year. Grades 13 to 1 received 5% on basic salary and grades 14 and 15 received a flat N$700 per month.
Will Namibian public servants get another increase in 2027?
Yes. From 1 April 2027 staff on grades 15 to 1 receive a further 5% on basic salary. Staff below management level also get a 7% increase in transport allowances from that date.
Do teachers get the same salary increase as other civil servants?
Yes. NANTU (the Namibia National Teachers' Union) signed the agreement alongside NAPWU, so teachers in the public service follow the same grade-based increases.
What happened to PSEMAS contributions?
Monthly contributions rose under both the standard and higher options. At the same time, NAPWU announced that the 5% co-payment for accessing health services will be removed.
What grade are enrolled nurses on in Namibia?
Enrolled nurses are on public service salary scale grade 10, according to their own submission to the prime minister. They have asked for an upgrade, and the OPM says they will be assessed in the job evaluation and grading review.
How long will the job evaluation and grading review take?
The OPM says the evaluation begins in 2026 and should run for roughly three years. Government would like it done sooner, and results will be announced only after approval by the PSC and the prime minister.
Sources
The Brief – Govt to review public service job grades and digitise recruitment
Namibia Economist – Government targets 100% qualified teachers by 2030
This article was compiled by Jobsiz from the sources listed above, with AI-assisted writing and automated fact-checking. Published 7 October 2026. We update stories when new verified information becomes available.