More Minimum Wage?

By Sanday Chongo Kabange

The Minimum Wage in the formal sector is K268,000 per month based on the legal maximum workweek of 48 hours.  Efforts to review the Zambian Minimum Wage are currently underway. A series of consultative meetings between the Ministry of Labour, employees, employers and trade unions have been held with the sole mandate of adjusting the country’s Minimum Wage from the current K268,000.  

K268,000 currently sets the benchmark for Zambian employers. An employer can either peg salaries at K268,000 or adjust it upwards depending on the nature of business. It is by law that any employer in Zambia consider K268,000 as a Minimum Wage rate. Different employers will adjust this wage bracket by considering elements such as working  hours, national conditions of living, basic employee necessities, terms of reference for employees, employee benefits, entitlement and nature of work.

Regular Pay

According to the labour legislation the wages of an employee shall be due and payable:

• In the case of a contract of service from month to month, on the last day of each month

• In the case of a contract of service from fortnight to fortnight, on the last day of each fortnight

• In the case of a contract of service from week to week, on the last day of each week

Piece Work Pay

In the case of an employee employed on a task or piece work, on the completion of such task or work and provided that where an employee is employed on piece work, it shall be lawful for an employer, with the consent of such employee, to accumulate the wages due to the employee for such period not exceeding one month as may be agreed by the parties.

In the case of an employee employed to perform a journey, on the completion of such journey, a wage must be paid accordingly or in any other case, in accordance with the terms of the contract of service.