Minimum Wages in Zambia

Definition
Minimum Wage is the lowest wage that employers may legally pay to workers.

Minimum Wage Acts

There are various Minimum Wages provided for by the laws of Zambia depending on the category and grades. All these are contained in the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act (Laws, Volume 15, Cap. 276) and are specifically defined in the following:

• The Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act (General) Order 2010
• The Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (Domestic Workers) Order 2011
• The Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (Shop Workers) Order 2011

Importance of Minimum Wages
Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment are enacted in order to:

• safeguard the interest of the workers
• protect workers from exploitation or salary working conditions
• create a legal base on which employers will base their wage rate on
• and to protect un-unionized workers from abuse

Coverage of Minimum Wages

The Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act applies to all employees in Zambia, including domestic workers, shop workers and casual workers, unless in circumstances where the law stated different like unionized workers with bargaining influence or public workers whose wages are determined by the Minister of Labour.

Fixing Minimum Wages

Minimum Wages are set by a tripartite agreement reached upon by representatives from government, trade union and employers.

The Tripartite Consultative Labour Council (TCLC) meets time after time to review the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment after which agreed terms are effected.

• Know more about Minimum Wages in Zambia
• Minimum Wage Information of Zambia Last Updated by WageIndicator Team in March 2011