Namibian labour law, however, does not permit an employer to simply introduce continuous shifts because operational circumstances require it.
Section 15 of the Labour Act 11 of 2007 (Labour Act) empowers the Minister responsible for labour matters (Minister), by notice in the Government Gazette, to declare an operation a continuous operation and permit continuous shifts in respect of that operation. Importantly, no continuous shift permitted under section 15 may exceed eight hours.
The recent declaration concerning Uis Tin Mining Company (Pty) Ltd (Uis Tin Mine) provides a useful reminder of both the value and limitations of continuous-operation status for Namibia’s mining industry.
Government Notice 183 of 2026, published on 15 June 2026, declared the operations of Uis Tin Mining Company at the Uis Tin Mine site in the Erongo Region to be continuous operations and permitted continuous shifts from 12 May 2026 until 11 May 2029.
For mine operators, the declaration is more than an administrative approval. Its...
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