Services offered to Members

The Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) has contracted the services of an HR and Labour Consultant to assist with the application of Namibian employment law. This is one of the key services offered to all member companies.

Through this service, the CIF can assist member companies to find answers to questions that would typically arise:

• Terms and conditions of employment
• Assistance with Affirmative Action and Social Security
• Deductions from wages
• Disciplinary procedures
• Misconduct, poor performance and absenteeism
• Bullying and harassment
• Long-term sickness and disability
• Grievances, disputes and industrial action
• Redundancy consultation and selection

The Construction Industries Federation of Namibia’s (CIF) industrial relations support is grounded in industry-specific experience and expertise, and will deliver companies savings and efficiencies.The CIF is key partner negotiating on behalf of its members.  The CIF is actively involved together with the labour union to negotiate new collective agreements applicable to the industry at large. The CIF also lobbies Government for the swift ratification and gazetting of the newly negotiated collective agreements

All employees in the Namibian construction industry are covered by the new Collective Agreement between the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) and Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU).  Membership of a pension fund, providing benefits to employees in the construction sector, therefore is a legal requirement.

The Namibian Building Workers Pension Fund is essentially a multi-employer pension fund, providing support to employers and employees in Namibia's construction industry, an industry where changes of jobs and work place are likely to happen more frequently. Employees therefore do not have to worry about losing their pension benefits if they were to change their employment, as the benefits will continue to grow in the plan.  The following benefits are provided: Death-in-service Benefit, Disability Benifit and Retirement Benefit.  The assets of the members of the Namibian Building Workers Pension Fund are invested with Alexander Forbes Investments Namibia.

The Pension Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees.  By law, your Board of Trustees consists of three employer-appointed Trustees and three member-elected Trustees.  It is the Board of Trustees' responsibility to ensure that the Fund is managed in a responsible and prudent manner.  The Board of Trustees is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the administration, investment and management of the Pension Plan and its assets.  The Administrator , Alexander Forbes Financial Services Namibia, who is appointed by the Board, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the pension plan.

The Namibian Building Workers Pension Fund is dedicated to ensuring the security and welfare of its members and their families. 

Members of the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) have representation at Government through the Federation. New bills are being introduced and the CIF remains alert of their potential impact on the construction industry. The CIF lobbies positions on bills approved or opposes bills that would adversely affect the organisation and its members.  The CIF is the construction industry's leading authority on, and watchdog for, contractors' interest. The CIF continually builds relationships with government officials and monitors all legislation that comes before Parliament and explains to officials the impact that these proposals have on construction. This ensures that the interests of the bona fide Namibian contractors, are represented.

The area of occupational health and safety is becoming increasingly important to all parties working in the building and construction industry.  The CIF is working towards developing and delivering the highest quality safety materials, education and awareness among CIF member companies and their employees by enhancing and sharing "best safety practices" to all members that will ensure a safer working environment and contribute to a positive image of the Namibian construction industry. The CIF facilitates courses on organisational health and safety. The CIF can also assist with directing member companies to health & safety consultants for site safety audits and inspections. The CIF also provides information on relevant codes and practices.

To raise awareness of the construction industry, the CIF proactively undertakes marketing and public relations activities in the interest of its members.  It includes a range of regular efforts to ensure that stakeholders of the industry and the public at large, are informed about what is happening in this critical economic sector; to update all concerned about the interests as well as the services and initiatives undertaken by the CIF and to represent the interests of and share information about our members.

As such our activities include:

• E-marketing through regularly updating our website and e-mailing our stakeholders as well as using social media initiatives to raise further awareness.
• Writing and distributing of press releases to ensure coverage in the national - both in the printed media and online, as well as radio and television.
• Interviews with the media to inform the public about issues of relevance.
• Actively seeking speaking opportunities at seminars and conferences.
• Regular e-mail distribution of Hats Off newsletter to critical stakeholders in the private and public sector.
• Arrangements of exhibitions, road shows and workshops.
• Publication of an annual CIF Members Directory for distribution to key decision-makers but also anyone that wishes to procure the services of our members.

We are thus always on the look-out to further raise awareness and indirectly represent the interests of our members.  Although our resources are limited we can offer the following to individual members:

• Upon joining the CIF all new members are being introduced to our stakeholders through inclusion of a profile and contact details of the company in the CIF's construction newsletter, Hats Off.
• The CIF arranges networking events for its members to establish contact and exchange information.
• At a small fee, the CIF can arrange promotional events on behalf of its members - this would be of particular interest to our trade members and affiliated members.
• We always welcome information about new products or services;  exciting projects secured, managed or completed for inclusion in Hats Off.

For our members to run a profitable and successful business, it is important for them to know what is happening outside their business, which would have implications on how they would have to conduct or indeed change their business. 

We thus inform our members of policy decisions of Government, as well as new legislation that could inpact operations.  In our newsletter, Hats Off we regularly publish an economic digest.  Social issues in Namibia are normally well publicised; however, the CIF provides information to its members on the lobbying initatives it undertakes in order to adress social issues; e.g. unemployment.  The CIF also provides a downloadable workplace policy document on HIV and Aids.

Information is thus regularly distributed through our newsletter.  Our members also have restricted access to our downloadable publications on the CIF website.

Have you got a skills gap or training need that you would like to have adressed?  Find out more in the Training & Development section of our website - or for specific training requirements please contact us.

CIF courses are industry-specific and adress skills and competencies not covered by either apprentice training or by certificate , diploma or degree courses available in the universities, intitutes of technology or vocational training centres.

CIF allows members to advertise current vacancies within their company directly to people within the construction industry, free of charge.  In turn, applicants can submit their CV's to companies in response to the advertised positions.