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Zambia: New Minimum Wage for Domestic Workers

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by IDWFED published Mar 08, 2011 12:00 AM
Contributors: Charles Musonda/Zambia Daily Mail
For the first time, the Zambian government has set a minimum wage for domestic workers. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security arrived at the minimum wage after consultation with stakeholders, including employers and employees. “Despite their importance, domestic workers are the most exploited and abused in the country, needless to say that they are often underworked and underpaid,” explained Minister Austin Liato.

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ZAMBIA -

State ups minimum wage

GOVERNMENT has increased the minimum wage for shop workers and other protected employees in general establishments from K268, 800 to K419, 000 per month with effect from this month-end.

And the government has for the first time set a minimum wage for domestic workers at K250,000.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Austin Liato said in Lusaka yesterday that the new minimum wages and conditions of service are contained in statutory instruments numbers one, two and three of 2011, which have replaced statutory instruments number 56 and 57 of 2006.

Other significant features in the statutory instruments include housing allowance at the rate of 30 percent of the minimum wage; transport allowance, which has increased from K80,000 to K102,400.

The rest are lunch allowance, which has gone up to K120,000 from K70,000 per month, and subsistence allowance, which has been increased from K100,000 to K195,000.

“The ministry is aware that the decent wages provided in these statutory instruments ought not to be so high as to stifle existing businesses, especially small businesses, or scare away possible investment that we need so much to create employment,” Mr Liato said.

He said the ministry arrived at the new wages and conditions of service after consultations with key stakeholders, including employers and employees.

And Mr Liato has said the ministry has for the first time developed regulations that will determine the minimum wage for domestic workers in the country at K250,000.

“It does not mean that domestic workers should be paid K250, 000. This is a minimum for those who cannot afford to pay more than that,” he said.

Mr Liato said domestic workers will work 48 hours per week, and will be entitled to annual leave of 24 days.

He said besides the minimum wage, domestic workers will be entitled to K102, 400 as transport allowance per month, and a separation package of one month’s salary for every two years served.

Mr Liato said this is aimed at ensuring that domestic workers’ rights are protected and their welfare is safeguarded through statutory regulation.

“Despite their importance, domestic workers are the most exploited and abused in the country, needless to say that they are often overworked and underpaid.

“Because of the private nature of the workplaces they operate from, they suffer various forms of injustice like physical and psychological abuse, and in some cases sexual abuse. We are grossly saddened by this state of affairs, and will, therefore, ensure that their welfare is safeguarded,” he said.

Mr Liato dispelled arguments by some players in the labour market that the government deliberately delayed the revision of the statutory instruments with a view of implementing them in 2011.

He said the government will ensure the decent work programme continues in Zambia, and that amendments to the Employment Act will be passed during the next sitting of Parliament.

He said the issues addressed in the proposed amendments include casualisation of labour, labour brokering, enhancement of working conditions and stiffening penalties against people and organisations failing to comply with labour laws.

“I am positive that through effective awareness and enforcement of labour laws, we will overcome all challenges,” he said.

Source: Charles Musonda/Zambia Daily Mail

Story Type: News

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