Windhoek — Namibia Dairies and the Namibia Farmworkers' Union (NAFWU) have signed a wage agreement through which workers at the Mariental-based SuperFarm will receive 13th cheques coupled with a productivity bonus and flexible working hours.

The agreement between the dairy producer and the Shopstewards of NAFWU will also make provision for salary increases of 10%, 8% and 6% in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Namibia Dairies further agreed to back-date the first salary increase as from 1 July this year which will be payable on this month's salary. "I would like to assure that Namibia Dairies, being the largest and most diversified dairies company in the country is the right choice for your dairy products. We aim to achieve our 2010 growth goal and to nurture our three critical success factors - financial performance, best place to be and our profit growth of the business. And signing a wage agreement with this in mind depicts the character and profile of Namibia Dairies," said Hubertus Hamm, managing director of Namibia Dairies.

Accordng to Veronica Mocomi, NAFWU's shopsteward at the Mariental-based Superfarm, they are looking forward to a long term, mutually beneficial relationship which will result in the growth of business.

The 3-year agreement, which will lapse in 2011, is expected to form a basis for good working relations.