Cabinet has granted its approval for the issuance of a Statutory Instrument (SI) pertaining to the revision of minimum wages and conditions of service for various categories of workers covered by the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act. This decision comes in response to the recommendation put forth during the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council meeting, where government representatives, Trade Unions, and employers’ representatives collectively concurred on the necessity of reviewing the existing minimum wage rates.
The announcement of this pivotal development was made following the 18th Cabinet Meeting, which took place on Monday under the chairmanship of President Hakainde Hichilema. This is according to a press statement released to the media by Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa.
Mweetwa explained that the decision to review minimum wages was guided by the desire to ensure that workers earning the minimum wage receive improved conditions of service, acknowledging the rising cost of living that affects their livelihoods.
The issuance of the Statutory Instrument represents a pivotal step in addressing the well-being and economic security of the nation’s workforce, particularly those in lower-paying employment sectors such as domestic workers and shop workers. The revised minimum wage rates aim to align better with the current economic realities faced by workers.
In addition to the review of minimum wages, Cabinet also approved the issuance of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Penalty Waiver Regulations for the year 2023. This action is intended to enact the provisions of the National Pension Scheme Amendment Act Number 20 of 2022 concerning penalty waivers.
The NAPSA Penalty Waiver Regulations, 2023 will significantly alleviate the financial burden on businesses and offer relief to employers regarding the settlement of their outstanding NAPSA contributions.
Furthermore, Cabinet has greenlit the introduction of three key bills to the Zambian Parliament. These bills are the Zambia Institute of Procurement and Supply Bill, 2023, the Zambia Institute of Architects Bill, 2023, and the Zambia Institute of Quantity Surveyors Bill, 2023. Each of these proposed legislative measures holds the potential to bring positive changes and enhancements to their respective professional sectors.
Lastly, Cabinet has endorsed the Amendment Protocol on the Agreement for the Establishment of the Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping of goods in international trade. This decision reflects the government’s commitment to streamlining and enhancing international trade procedures.
The series of approvals and legislative measures demonstrates the government’s dedication to fostering improved conditions for workers, supporting businesses, and facilitating streamlined governance across various professional sectors.
A good thing but do employers have the capacity to pay.
Secondly who’s going to monitor because even the current minimum wages are not being met.
Some foreigner employers have always found a way to get around the law.
Its going to be a difficult balancing act indeed
lets not talk about foreigners before cleaning our own house up
how many of us pay the minimum wage ? domestics ?? most call them relatives, the informal sector is not checked either,nor are general businesses and if the are the customary brown envelopes appear
You’ree not normal.Where can it work when the economy is bad.Where the people going to get money to pay workers when the economy is bad.people are not buying
bantustan govt indeed
A government that only acts at the fear of ECL. Why have such a government. In 2026 let us return the man who loves us ECL. Hh has failed. People are suffering. Even meno meno chellah has now realised that upnd is failed project
You have more fear than the general population
You got it wrong last time and again you are wrong !
Your ECL is just a bitter twisted man why else would he act like that
these politicians should stop playing with people’s lives the know that this is not enforceable that’s why they don’t even bother to first communicate it with the employers they expect to pay these salaries…all governments do this
Some will resort to tactics like retrenchments
Cabinet also approved the issuance of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Penalty Waiver Regulations for the year 2023. This action is intended to enact the provisions of the National Pension Scheme Amendment Act Number 20 of 2022 concerning penalty waivers.
THIS IS GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS.
This is just going to result in law offs and retrenchments. On top of that most companies will even think twice before hiring which is going to lead to more unemployment. The government can put laws in place regarding minimum wages for all sectors but at the same time they should have provisions for bargaining between employers and employees as some employers cannot manage to pay the minimal wage but some employees would rather work to get a little something that sit at home unemployed. We used to have such an arrangement during unip days called oral contract of service.
This is just going to result in lay offs and retrenchments. On top of that most companies will even think twice before hiring which is going to lead to more unemployment. The government can put laws in place regarding minimum wages for all sectors but at the same time they should have provisions for bargaining between employers and employees as some employers cannot manage to pay the minimal wage but some employees would rather work to get a little something that sit at home unemployed. We used to have such an arrangement during unip days called oral contract of service.
LT, WHERE ARE THE FIGURES?
Mmmmm please act fast before we die batucusha
Nothing will change the fact is that these minimum wages are just on mouth and it end there without any changes surely because no one to monitor to satisfy this if it’s really working or not
Let our brothers and sisters get decent pay for a long time they have been exploited. Just to remind the shop owners wages are paid once in a month. I dont see you why you will fail to meet your obligation. And we will ask the GOVT to intervene at all if they will be lay offs.
this is a good move. lets just hope that this move wont result into retrenchments, most companies will not implement this due to the fact that they did not see this raise coming.
Dear Chief Editor,
in an article dated 27 December 2022 you stated
“The Government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has revised upwards the minimum wages for domestic workers, shopkeepers and general workers.
The revised minimum wage will be in effect beginning January 2023.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba stated that in accordance with Statutory Instrument Number 69 of Domestic Workers Order of 2018, the gross pay for domestic workers will move from K993.60 to K1300.00.”
and in October 2023 the same figures are announced… how is this an increment?
Am happy to hear about this, but the government should make sure to bouble check every companies if they are paying workers the correct salaries approved by the the government itself cause foreigners are here in Zambia and we the zambians are literally working for them but get more and more and we get less than its required. So I insist that things should be normal now as the new Don government is in power contracts are being re rewritten which is wrong so this should be worked on.
It was announced but now it’s approved my dear friend buy the government.