The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has observed that government should have selected some sectors in which the revised minimum wage should be applied.
ZCTU deputy president Humphrey Lungu said this is because certain groups of employers will not be able to pay their workers the wages that exceed K500, 000 per month.
Mr. Lungu said government should have imposed the revised wages on sectors whose workers have capacity to pay.
He said there was need for the Zambian government and unions such as the Federation for Free Trade Union of Zambia (FFTUZ) to dialogue over the matter.
He told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka today that the security companies will face great challenges because they will be forced to hike the price of their services which will in turn reduce jobs.
Mr. Lungu stated that individuals working in the mining and the agricultural sectors among others should be paid the revised minimum wages.
He noted that government should not have imposed a standard pay of minimum wages for its workers.
Government recently announced a new minimum wage of not less than K520, 000 for domestic workers and over K1 million for shop and other workers in order to protect employees who are not represented by any union.
The revision of the minimum wage has generated mixed reactions from different stakeholders with some rejecting and condemning it while others have welcomed it.
But Chief Government Spokesperson, Kennedy Sakeni said two todays ago that the decision to raise minimum wages was final and non-negotiable.
And Minister of Labour and Social Security, Fackson Shamenda, yesterday warned that employers that would dismiss workers in reaction to the minimum wage would be dealt with by the law.
ZANIS
OK , first to comment
I think the minimum wage was supposed to be done on a hourly rate and not on a monthly rate as this will create problems. just how will the govt deal with a person who cant afford to pay his garden boy 1 million from a 150pin previously agreed upon. funny
Get your facts right insted of exposing your ignorance here. Its K522,000 for domestic workers. If you paid your gardener K150 then you must be a very greedy chap. Can you live on K5pin per day? If you cant pay dont employ. If you have already employed, tough just pay.
Thanx pompizo. I was almost about to scream blue murder.Â
so who do we believe now..?is it set as a law or what..?
If you can’t afford the minimum wage please do not be an employer. Why should Zambians be turned into slaves in their own country?
The reverse is also true boss, if the wage is low don’t apply for the freaking job!
these unions are minions…why do you want to talk anyhow..you guys are entrusted to fight for better salaries of the suffering masses…appreciate what the government is doing and let those who can not afford the millenium minimum wage part ways with their employees.Guys…dont just employee because your neighbour has also employed….
I can’t believe that these remark are coming from a union leader! All he is thinking of is becoming the next Labour minister. I feel like kicking your bloody ass
This ZCTU Lungu guy is an embicile, how can he say Security Companies will fail to pay their employees?. These Security Companies are the biggest culprits when it comes to salaries for the guards. The watchmen in this country are treated as gabbage, the Security company will charge and individual or an organisation and 3million per month for a day and night Guard and yet these Gurads get K300 000 per month. What kind of treatment can this be?. In this 300pin, the Guard will have to pay rentals, buy food, electricity, water, transport and possibly school fees for the children. These Union Leaders are very foolish and they shouldnt just yap for the sake of yapping.
ZCTU should be closed down. New Mother Body should be born.
ZCTU finished, serving own pockets.
Its now just a name on paper. please open your eyes.
My Nephew who is working for an Indian Shop told me yesterday that daily sales amount to 30 Million Kwacha per day on average. The Indian has 6 workers. Two workers receive 450,000 per month each. then the remaining workers are paid weekly and receive 80,000 per week. He told me the Indian has vowed never to pay them the minimum wage. Funny thing is we are very proud when investors come here and tell us that there is cheap labour in Zambia.
Its very simple maths here the k30m is sales and i am very sure his a wholesaler profit margin is between 2 to 6 percent on average sometimes less in terms of thefts damages and expences for that particular day dont just conclude try running these businesses with your so called nephew and see talk is cheap
And what makes you think the Indian is and investor who “came here”. Hasn’t it occured to you that this “Indian” could be a Zambian from Chipata?
PF policies are very untimely. the intention is good but good intentions alone are not enough. I believe there is need to re-align these policies. Right now the biggest problem we have is unemployment and any policy that can potentially exacerbate this problem should be thought of carefully before being enforced. So far no policy toward solving the unemployment problem and yet we want to introduce the minimum wage. Shamenda is supposed to give expert advise to the president.
De PF govmt z much aware abt de problemz pipo ar facin.de standard of living nowadays is high,coz de gud house u ar goin 2 find at k350000,food,school fees,clothes,transport all dis things getin k700000 cn nt aford so dozi hu ll fail 2 pay de minimum wages z beta dey pack & go.we nid 2 be hapi wt our country nt slavery livin NO TWAKANA.
I have fired the maid already. Luckily for me she was expecting and was due for maternity, so I told her that we are shifting, paid her all her dues and alios! Now she has to go and look for a new job for her 3 mouths, where she may never get all the fringe benefits like taking relish not liked by my children, washing her work clothes with our detergent, no deductions for days not worked, breakfast & lunch provided, etc! This minimum wage issue is a blunder and government MUST accept and suspend it and approach it differently at a different date. Shop Keepers and guards need this minimum wage and I therefore do not agree with ZCTU Lungu!
Thank you for letting her go. Slavery was abolished centuries ago! Ask William Wilberforce. If it’s your baby she is carrying you better marry her.
MundiM, you are just plain evil and it’s people like you that are trying to undo everything the government is doind. I mean, where is your soul to let go off a pregnant woman? Please, do not hide in the government’s just because you are plain evil?
Its very sadd to hear such words from a unionist. Plan better for your employee as well as yourself. The problem we have in our country is that we only think of government and a company as the ones who should provide employment. Think please! Baclays, Bata, IBM (International Bussiness Machines) to name a few all are personal business entities. Sir Thomas Whatson started IBM from street vending. Read the book ” The IBM way (written by Buck Rodgers).
What a useless union representative!
I think the Government has done well to raise the minimum wage. Understandably, those who pay wages will cry foul but the truth is that the minimum wage has needed to be raised from a long time ago. I’m sure after the initial outcry and hoolaballoo, things will shake down to some equilibrium, and at the end of it all, relief will have been given to many of our struggling brothers and sisters. Which is a good thing!
Even Toyota, Izuzu, Benz, Dermler etc are personal names. Its not what the employer gives you that you can only share but your own products as well. Foreigners are making a killing right here in Zambia. Not only big companies but even the Masais you on the streets. They have seen great oppotunities which Mr Lungu you can’t see! # 5, Cycle matter, thanks for your in-put.
ZCTU must be reconstituted as prioriy item on the agenda of the progressive labour union fraternity. ZCTU shelf-life expired along time ago.
We should look at the positive side of this. The enforcement is an effort to address under-employment. It is like the so-called appreciation of the Kwacha after the SI 33. It just curbed speculation and brought the value to its true levels. The same will apply to employment; we need to have true unemployment figures because aside from that we have modern day slavery under the guise of employment currently going on! I am aware of the social consequences, however.
I have lived in the USA for 10 years and more so in europe. The problem with zambians is when you become financially sound (can take of your family) that means problems are over. K750,000 per month which is not even enough, is basically US$150 that people here make in a day. We have got to be serious. If you cannot pay someone with a family of 6 money that you spend on food every two days, where is your soul. Dictators are not born but created. Just imagine how many lozis would have benefited from the K2.1 billion (almost have a million dollars) that Liato buried in the ground? How much was he paying and exploiting his fellow tribemates working for him? Who can survive on US15 per month as a salary? Get real zambians.Â
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