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Employment guide

Hire and pay employees
in Namibia

Employment law, payroll compliance, taxes, benefits, and hiring requirements for Namibia — curated and reviewed by Remote&.

Capital
Windhoek
Currency
Namibian Dollar (NAD), pegged 1:1 to South African Rand
Working Hours
45 hours per week
Min. salary
NAD 18.68 (general sector)
01 — Country basics

Namibia at a glance

Capital
Windhoek
Language
English (official)
Currency
Namibian Dollar (NAD), pegged 1:1 to South African Rand
Working Hours
45 hours per week
Public Holidays
12 days
Minimum Salary
NAD 18.68 (general sector)
Tax Year
Mar 1 – Feb 28
Worker misclassification risk
Namibia's Labour Act (Act No. 11 of 2007) broadly defines "employee" to cover most workers in a dependent employment relationship. Misclassification can lead to retroactive SSCOM and GIPF contribution claims, back-payment of leave entitlements, and enforcement by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.
02 — Tax obligations

Taxes in Namibia

Employer Contributions

ContributionRate
Social Security Commission (SSC/SSCOM) — maternity, sickness & death (MSD)0.9% of gross remuneration (capped at NAD 81/month)
Social Security Commission — development fund0.5% of gross remuneration
Vocational Education and Training (VET) levy1% of annual payroll

Note: Employer must also deduct employee PAYE and remit to Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA).

Employer contributions
ContributionRate
Social Security Commission (SSC/SSCOM) — maternity, sickness & death (MSD)0.9% of gross remuneration (capped at NAD 81/month)
Social Security Commission — development fund0.5% of gross remuneration
Vocational Education and Training (VET) levy1% of annual payroll

Note: Employer must also deduct employee PAYE and remit to Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA).

Employee contributions
ContributionRate
Social Security Commission (SSCOM — MSD)0.9% (capped at NAD 81/month)
GIPF (Government Institutions Pension Fund — public sector only)N/A for private sector
Income Tax (PAYE)0% – 37% (progressive)
Income tax brackets
Annual Income (NAD)Tax
0 – 100,0000%
100,001 – 150,00018%
150,001 – 200,00025%
200,001 – 350,00028%
350,001 – 500,00030%
500,001 – 750,00032%
750,001 – 1,500,00034%
Over 1,500,00037%
03 — Remote& EOR

Employer of Record in Namibia

What Is an Employer of Record?

An Employer of Record is the legal employer of your worker in Namibia. Remote& handles employment contracts under the Namibian Labour Act, NamRA PAYE registration, Social Security Commission enrollment, payroll processing, and statutory benefits — so you can hire in Namibia without setting up a local entity.

How Remote& EOR Works

PartyRole
Your CompanyRecruits the worker, assigns tasks, manages performance
Remote&Signs the employment contract, registers with NamRA and SSC, processes payroll, withholds PAYE, manages statutory contributions
EmployeeFulfills their role for your company under a Namibia-compliant employment contract

Ask Remi:

"Hire a Mining Operations Coordinator in Windhoek — NAD 45,000/month, starting next quarter" Remi handles contract drafting, NamRA and SSCOM registration, payroll configuration, and statutory leave management — all in one conversation.
04 — What employees receive

Benefits in Namibia

Statutory

Social Security Commission (SSCOM) The SSC provides maternity leave, sick leave benefits, and death benefits through the MSD fund. Both employer and employee contribute 0.9% of gross salary (capped).

Workmen's Compensation (WCA) Employers are required to register with and contribute to the Namibia Employees Compensation Fund for work-related injuries and diseases.

Vocational Training Levy (VET) Employers contribute 1% of annual payroll to fund vocational education and training under the Vocational Education and Training Act.

Common additional
  • Private medical insurance (common — public healthcare access is limited in remote areas)
  • Pension fund contributions (private sector, through approved fund)
  • Annual performance bonus
  • Housing allowance
  • Transportation allowance
  • Mobile phone allowance
05 — Time away from work

Leave entitlements

Leave typeEntitlement
Annual Leave24 consecutive days per year
Sick Leave30 working days over a 36-month cycle
Maternity Leave12 weeks
Paternity Leave5 days
Family Responsibility Leave5 days per year
06 — Contracts & rights

Employment conditions

Working Hours

Maximum working hours are 45 per week (9 hours per day for a 5-day week). Overtime beyond the standard must be compensated at 1.5 times the regular rate on weekdays and Saturdays, and 2 times on Sundays and public holidays.

Probation

Probation periods must be specified in the employment contract. The standard maximum probation is 3 months for general employees. Either party may terminate during probation with notice as agreed in the contract.

07 — Payroll cadence

Payments

Payment frequency
Monthly
Payday
Typically the last working day of the month.
08 — Off-boarding

End of employment in Namibia

Termination must comply with the Namibian Labour Act. Dismissal must be for a valid, fair reason (misconduct, incapacity, or operational requirements) and follow a fair procedure. Notice periods for indefinite-term contracts are: 1 week (less than 4 weeks' service); 1 month (4 weeks to 1 year); or as specified for longer service.

Unfair dismissal gives rise to reinstatement or compensation claims in the Labour Court. Retrenchments require a consultation process with affected employees and the relevant trade union. Final settlement must include outstanding wages, accrued leave, and any applicable severance.

09 — Common questions

Frequently asked questions

International companies can hire in Namibia via: home-country payroll (non-compliant for ongoing employment — NamRA PAYE and SSC obligations apply), contractor arrangements (appropriate for genuine project-based work), establishing a local entity, or using Remote& as Employer of Record. The EOR route is the most efficient compliant option.

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