JCTR Welcomes Revised Minimum Wage

The minimum wage and conditions of employment Act Cap 276 of the Laws of Zambia have been revised following issuance of Statutory Instruments No. 69 of 2018 covering domestic workers, Statutory Instrument No.70 of 2018 covering shop workers and Statutory Instrument No.71 of 2018 provides for general application of all protected workers. The cost of living in Lusaka has risen from K4, 928 in August 2017 to K5, 402 in August 2018. This increase in the cost of living has caused a lot of financial distress especially in the low income households. In respect of this situation, the centre urged government to prioritize the enactment of laws in the employment and labour sector that will protect workers from being exploited by their employers. The increment in the minimum wages will therefore provide some relief on low income household and will help to close the income gap between the rich and poor. The JCTR has however observed that the increment in the minimum wage may lead to loss of some jobs for some domestic workers as the new wages may be beyond the financial capacity of their employers whose salaries have not received a corresponding increment.