Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda has disclosed that Government is in the process of revising the minimum wage.
Mr. Shamenda said in an interview that in light of the increased cost of living, the ministry through the Tripartite Labour Council is making consultations in order to agree on an acceptable figure.
He is confident that the consultations will be concluded soon and the new minimum wages effected before the general elections.
“we are looking at modalities and we are making consultations so that we conclude this process before the elections,” Mr Shamenda said.
Government last revised the minimum wages in 2012 with the lowest paid workers being domestic workers receiving 420,000 per month while the highest paid being qualified clerks who receive 1,445 per month.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila has implored labour movements to be proactive in protecting workers’ interest for them to remain relevant in promoting decent work and national development.
And Mr. Mwila has threatened to revoke work permits for all expatriate employees occupying positions that can be filled by the local labour force.
He said unions play a significant role in bargaining and fighting for workers’ interest hence failure to meet their obligation would result in government being blamed for poor conditions of service for workers.
He was speaking in Luanshya yesterday during the labour day commemoration under the theme “achieving national development through productive decent work, sustainable job creation and social justice”.
Mr. Mwila noted that it was not government’s responsibility to bargain for workers’ conditions.
He said government’s role was to provide an enabling playing field for employers and the unions.
And the Home Affairs Minister has warned foreign investors against engaging expatriates to fill job positions that can be managed by the local labour force.
Mr. Mwila said government will not hesitate to revoke work permits for such expatriate employees as the law was explicit on the matter.
He however assured employers that government was committed to offloading capable graduates to meet the labour demand adding that the recent closures of the two public universities, which have since reopened, was aimed at maintaining sanity by removing political interference in high institutions of learning.
Mr. Mwila was responding to an appeal made by Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) representative Luisa Nduna who expressed concern that university graduates would soon become rejects on the labour market if abrupt closures continue.
Ms. Nduna observed that employers were concerned that the closures of the universities compromised the standard and output of the students when they graduate.
Earlier, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Luanshya district chairperson David Mubiana called on government to address the issue of expatriates in some companies who were taking up the jobs meant for the local people.
Mr. Mubiana further called on government to engage the Luanshya Copper Mines on the reopening of Baluba plant as the district was dependant on copper for its economic activities.
Workers from various companies in the district were awarded for their dedication to duty with rewards ranging from household goods, money and certificates.
LT, I don’t understand this, probably because I have been away from home for a long time, the minimum wage in 2012 was 420,000 per month while the highest paid were qualified clerks who receive 1,445 per month? I am just missing something here? Please clarify.
@Mwepo HAHAHAHA!!!
“Government last revised the minimum wages in 2012 with the lowest paid workers being domestic workers receiving 420,000 per month while the highest paid being qualified clerks who receive 1,445 per month.”
I am packing my bags tomorrow and head back home; the new minimum wage of K420,000 is so tempting. That translates to £29,870 per month. WOW!!!!
Fellow diasporans, including Mushota, let go back home.
Easy, easy people ba LT don’t qualify for elective office, they are not grade 12. Forgive them. To understand what they write about do your own editing.
Another reason why I am glad the IMF didnt bail out these empty tins as they would have used the money for vote buying as is the case here!!
WOW!!!
Hon. Shamenda has found his voice again?
It is a great news that minimum wage will be increased just before election. One small problem Hon. Shamenda, with already announced increase of electricity and oil derivatives, from where the money is going to come from?
What is left of local economy barely survives. Instead of higher purchasing power, it will be more job losses and higher inflation. It looks like PF has decided to finish destroying local economy.
Great job Hon. Shamenda!!! You started it in 2011 and last blow in 2016!!!
Just before elections. Is this a surprise??? Where were you all this time? Funny guy, just let you professional failure (PF) boss know that his is been fired by the Zambians in 3 months.
The increase In minimum wages means govt’s total recurrent expenditures will increase at a time when revenue collection is declining. So where will the money come from to finance this increase in recurrent expenditures? With revenue down, domestic and external borrowing having reached their limits where will govt get the money for the purpose? Govt is currently struggling to pay monthly civil servants wages and pensions so increasing the minimum wages will increase the financing burden. These populist policies will cripple the economy and the fiscus.
Mr Shamende, your new political strategy on minimum wage is going to cost you votes. You try it and see how many people will be laid off. You think this mess you guys have made of the economy has not affected employers too? You will be the cause of lots more people being jobless.
Do these people understand Economis 101? If they do they would realise that increasing minimum wages is highly inflationary. This policy is counter productive as it leads to increased prices thru a wage/price spiral. The increase of minimum wages will increase the cost of production leading to increased prices in a contracting Zambian economy. The policy is ill advised and will have to be reversed after general elections on 11th August 2016. The policy is meant to buy votes but people are not naive and will still vote out this clueless and visionless ECL govt.
The policy is not only ill advised but ill conceived as well. They have lamentably failed to secure the finances of employers, and despite an ailing economy want to demand more for the sake of vote buying. Pay us more and we will pay more too.
So its all about elections?when are you ever going to work in national interest?Dont worry Mr mandevu as for me and my family have already made up our minds.Too late pwiiiiiiiiii.
As uPND ever supported PF in anyway? Even the issue of minimum wage was an issue to some pipo.look at how you opposed construction of roads and plans of delaying the constitution. PF is talking about consulting. Workers, employers, and unions to make every player happy. MMD is going for convention when is UPND going?
Guess its time to give my maid a notice. I won’t be affording her services anymore… Too bad for the widowed mother of 4. Life