Minister of Labor and Social Security Joyce Simukoko says the government has concluded consultations on the minimum wages for truck and bus drivers.
She has since signed a statutory instrument entitled “the minimum wages and conditions of employment (truck and bus drivers) order, 2020.
In a statement issued to the media, Minister of Labor and Social Security Joyce Simukoko stated that the basic pay set out for truck drivers is K3 000 and K2 200 for bus drivers.
She further stated that the consultations with social Partners, namely the trade unions, employer’s federation, and government and key stakeholders on the matter were conducted through the labor advisory committee meetings from Wednesday, September 30 to Friday, October 2nd, 2020.
Mrs Simukoko noted that during the said meetings, the minimum wages and conditions of employment for truck and bus drivers were discussed and agreed upon by the committee.
She further noted that the other salient features of the statutory instrument are that the wages or any benefit enjoyed by a driver before the coming into question of this order shall not be reduced as a result of the application of this order.
She indicated that the other feature is that a pay statement shall be given to the driver by the employer providing details of the work done by the driver, including wages before and after deductions, overtime where applicable, among others.
“Other items contained in this order include, annual leave and leave pay, funeral assistance, transport allowance, lunch allowance, and subsistence for local trips, tool allowance, protective clothing, and risk allowance where applicable and cross border allowance,” the Minister explained.
She emphasized that other general conditions of service such as housing allowance, gratuity, severance pay and many others are as outlined in the employment code act no. 3 of 2019.
She noted that she expects that the collective decision by the social partners will be respected.
The Minister added that her hope is that both the trade unions and the employer federation should take up their role in educating their constituencies on the implications of the truck and bus drivers order.
“You may wish to recall that his Excellency Mr Edgar Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia in his address during the commemoration of the International Labor Day on 1st May 2018, directed the ministry of labor and social security to review the minimum wages and conditions of employment in the country,” reminded the Minister.
Mrs Simukoko said following this directive from the President, her ministry embarked on the process and subsequently revised the domestic workers order, the shop workers order and the general order which came into effect on September 10, 2018.
She explained that the new employment code act no. 3. Of 2019 provides for a very elaborate and consultative process for the review of the minimum wages and conditions of employment through the labor advisory committee established under the employment code act number 3 of 2019.
She further explained that it is government’s general responsibility to prescribe and enforce the minimum wages.
The Minister said this is done to ensure that the wages are in line with socially acceptable employment standards to ensure that vulnerable workers are not exploited.
“This order is one of the many achievements that the Patriotic Front government has achieved in the quest of enhancing the general welfare of workers in Zambia. This is the first time that track and bus drivers are provided for in terms of minimum wages,” said Mrs simukoko.
She appealed to all the stakeholders to adhere to the order and as any departure from it will attract the full wrath of the law.
Mrs Simukoko indicated that the Development of Sector Based Minimum wages will focus on the sectors where exploitation and low wages are rampant.
She further indicated that government is actively looking at all the sectors in a phased approach. The Minister highlighted that consultations have commenced with the agricultural sector.
She explained that other sectors like mining, private security guards, and Telecommunication sector, among others will follow.
She reiterated the reasons for the revision of the minimum wages was that there was no minimum wages and conditions of employment specific for the truck and bus drivers.
Mrs Simukoko added that the reason for no minimum wage was because the general order 2018 did not adequately cover such a category of employees due to the peculiar nature of work that they perform.
She further added that there has been numerous changes to economic and social fundamentals, including increases in the cost of food, goods and services thereby adversely affecting the general welfare of the truck and bus drivers.
The order seeks to provide guidance on the administration of wages and conditions of employment for non-unionized truck and bus drivers, as these categories of drivers are very vulnerable and have been facing serious challenges due to lack of adequate protection.
Ummmm this is way too low
Ba minister you should make it atlist K5000 to K12000 if we are to be fair and morally right
Emmanuel Mukuku Kabindama I totally agree….what is k3000 compared to the work they do and hours they spend on the road…..these people who don’t do their research and come up with figures as if they have fallen from a tree…and just because it doesn’t affect them.
Lusungu Sky Lengesela do you know that before this the minimum wage has been 1400? So them pushing it to 3000 is very marginal and also minimum wage doesn’t mean one should be paid that amount. It simply means for those whose businesses are not performing so well but are expected to pay their employees, the minimum we expect the lowest driver to be paid is 3000. But companies can even pay 20pin if they have and depending on the business.
Lusungu Sky Lengesela you are right and I think as a country we have a problem of not understanding that a “Human being is an end within themselves and alt to be treated with respect” and we fail to do even a simple research imagine (example) a south African driver working for the same company gets R15,000 (over K20,000) and then you pay a Zambian K3,000 is there any morality and respect their? Ño. So 3 yachepa these people deserve better
Hon Daniel Mwimbe Siame which ever angle you want to look at it 3000 yachepa
Emmanuel Mukuku Kabindama exactly because south Africans understand and respect the ubuntu spirit….not these officials we have here in Zambia….look at this margin and people should proudly say k3000 minimum wage…. what a bunch of buffoons ……!
Chisala Kaunda
lol…this minister is just position holder nothing more..
Mayo business yalifwa whilst the operation cost is high then ama guys gwagu no daily owner of the bus remains with peanuts
Caristo Mwango on point bakalamba
Still more this is too little for these guys I actually didn’t know that they were getting less than this
Xavier Simoya so you don’t know? Yet you are among the first to comment.??
It’s still to little 3000 for a long distance truck…….maybe 10 to 15,000 its okay
Can the minister help us to make a budget with this money for someone with a family of six. Mockery of the highest order
Useless
Total insults what can k3000 buy with the kwacha which is loosing value daily
Kashoka Lungu they get k 1500 monthly actually. And these are cross border drivers. Their plight has been ignored long enough. That k1500 is a maids salary
Skyler Linton these pipo awe sure mweee ba mwankole
3000 that’s peanuts…. At least 8000…which truck drivers first all for those for canters or wat??bcoz those for truck and trailers cannot be getting this change…. This woman must be fired….she’s irrelevant
Rosa Golden Child True maybe it’s for bama canter
Rosa Golden Child before this they were getting 1000
Suppose we put k6000 as a minimum wage for you madam, would you be still be the minister ?
Kaoma Mukumba good question
This is a minimum wage and is not the ultimate and final figure. The government has done well to create this minimum wage because some employers of this category were taking advantage of the drivers by giving them as little as k800. The drivers will now be negotiating with their respective employees for even higher wages while knowing very well that they can not be offered less than their minimum wages. Well done of government for this endeavour.
What is k3,000 in this economy?
Rent, food, school fees, medical, emergencies, dependents, all in the same amount?
Is this coming from a minister or it’s just a story k3000 pin you are joking right
This is a joke of the first century.????????????????????????
This is useless minister eve I had come across she doesn’t understand wat she is doing in this ministry.
Does the government know the extent our Kwacha has depreciated?
If you haven’t registered as a voter,go and do this now so that we sort out these people next year.
Michael Sinyimbwe its true bro inbox me your watsaap line we discuss in private
And where do the tippers fall
What is a 3000, rentals, food, school fees, clothes and pocket money in that ka k3000?
This is a raise? how much where they getting before?
Ba Minister why sure tefintu 3000 kkkkkkkk come 2021 we are going to show you the exit.
Lelo elo mwamoneka mayo. 3 pin is still too little
What is k3000 with your damaged economy
Mwewa Jones kikikiki mabwana better than nothing
Francis Mutupa mabwana don’t be fooled by these people you are in the same industry and support your self and your fellow drivers just check all comments if that is better than nothing, and why work for better than nothing why why mbwana, let’s not corrupt your minds it’s the duty of every government to make life’s better for it’s people if them paid them self’s k55pin to k60pin an lawful what is k3000 mbwana, am supprise of you mbwana those people only care for them self you speak for them they not even know you, some of us we speak because we want them to do as they do to themselves and to others
Mwewa Jones am looking at where we are coming from so you are telling me that the PF government should set the standard of minimum wage for drivers
Basic needs basket is K7000 per month. Where is the K4000 deficit going to come from?
Christopher Shanda Votes!
Votes!
Votes!
Even the Hon. Minister of Labour has finally made her presence known.
How much were these drivers getting before?
Most useless minister
Nyirenda Mwanalesa Mathews yes
She is sick
So u are telling me a tanker track driver delivering ? fuel?? worth K500,000 by month end to be paid K3000????
Lesa twafweni, where in the world can one survive on that?
Bushe ni per hour or per month? ????
Pf suntwez with no plans
You’re joking minister, better if you can resign because you’re not helpful ! How much will a general worker get ?
Let’s put a salary of 6000 for all ministers
Am absolutel disappointed with u mama and your government. Yourselves u don’t even pay any bills but how much do u get…what is K3000 oooo Nooo kamoni grow up u people. Living is expensive may give them good salary please..
Food ,rentals ,school fees ,clothes, others are pillars in family. Did u consider all these….wake up wake up. K3000×2 better.
As Dr. Nevers Mumba said these pipo r murderers…
Minimum wage for a govt office cleaner some 3 years ago was K2770 today u put minimum wage for a whole lot of a truck driver trekking from country to country n across the country at K3000? How devilish can u be???
Peter M Samuwika It’s a minimum wage. No one should get less than that. Moreover,a minimum wage is just a basic salary whatever allowances which are associated to this work should be bargained with their respective employers.
Allowances r mainly 25% to 35% or so of the basic salary , so the lower the basic salary the lower the whole package,
I was was hoping they would bring it at k35.00 or even k4pin considering that they are increasing the non payee threshold at k4pin at the start of next year.. we are not really sure what criteria was used to arrive at. And what the current average basic pay for the truckers was before this.. all in all, we still have chance to perhaps up it any time soon..
Mbwana read that again it says government( PF)sets minimum wage for truck and bus drivers k3000 and k2200, a normal bedroom house for rent costs k2000 to k2500
This government lacks merit zoona.so ati bakamba bapasa ma orders?yaba mwelesa seni mutwafwe
This is an insult to the drivers,that’s not fair at all with economy the minister should be fair and realistic with some the decision she makes
You should resign you don’t have a heart how much do you get paid you people Mr President should fire you
This woman is a let down, before she was a minister performed well but after being bribed with a ministerial post, she can’t think properly because her tummy is always full of niceties.Can you try and make a budget for drivers out of that K3000 with a family of five children? People let’s all go and register to vote so that we bring in people with fresh ideas.
Stephen Mubanga It’s a minimum wage. No one should get less than that. Moreover,a minimum wage is just a basic salary whatever allowances which are associated to this work should be bargained with their respective employers.
Stephen Mubanga read the Si before saying much.
John Mumba my bro,yes it’s a minimum wage,but I don’t think the transporters will go beyond that minimum wage to pay the drivers.If anything before that some were being paid even below the last minimum wage which was there my bro.
Chikondi Kasankha Phiri my bro it’s a good and bad documents at the same time.For those that are getting slightly above K3000 ni wala and for those drivers in management ni wala.
Have you looked at the allowances? Esp for the cross border drivers? The guys will be making too much.
This good but it remains to be seen how it shall be implemented because it’s difficult paying out that amount when you ain’t making money
But they were saying 10pin minimum
She doesn’t v a heart for the drivrs.i don’t think if her being minister were earning such could accept those ****ts and still hold onto her portifolio.
For sure this is the most useless minister ever
Kakengela Kombe we have had no labour minister for long tata its been vacant and what pains is that the president doesn’t see that most of his ministries are dead
Ministry of transport will start paying them?
thats rabbish 3000 is nothing
beans
Barnabas Chikopela iyaku Chipata?
The question is will the business owners manage to be paying out the minimum wage even when business is tough?
What is that… My cracked foot….. That money cant even hire a decent prostitute..
Kuile kubbwa…kusabaile…
Umungulu
But the truth should be told this money is vry little may be house boy is intitaled to this.with this mud enconomy sure.
But will business owners honor this with the challenges bus and truck businesses are having now?
Great development in the right direction. Twalumba ba minister. Ba upnd if the amount is too low then please tell us how much your billionaire hh pays his farm workers
“I laugh when I hear some people say things are bad….”.
This woman is a failure in the department of labor
K3000 WHAT IS THAT MONEY FOR LAUNCH WHAT A JOKE MU ZAMBIA.
Yo Mu Zambia K3000 when the kwacha is at 22 US Dollar.
Who’s truck?
84 comments ..this is a joke ..this website is truly wide open
Vaupuba…..
Your minister should understand the meaning of Transport and the role Drivers plays to ensure goods or passengers reaches to most demanding points. Without them there is failure in all sectors of the society. I believe they deserve more than those insults compared to the value they add to their fellow man and goods. Moreover they are even trained for their professional.
This is a government of Ministers who always advise that workers should not depend on a salary. This is not surprising…
How truly sure are you that this will be accepted by company owners, and how will you monitor it to make sure this has worked out?
Like serious most of you people are talking things you don’t understand.
Minimum wage is not the ultimate money to be paid for the drivers, there’s housing fee, transport fee, lunch fee, there’s over time fee all these to be paid to them. So when you put together all the fees, you find that some will be paid not less than 10,000 kwacha.
Minimum wage is not the final payment.