15% pay rise for agric industry

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union

THE National Employment Council for the Agricultural industry of Zimbabwe says workers in the sector have received a 15 percent minimum wage adjustment with the lowest paid farm worker earning $121 per month effective November 1.

In a telephone interview, the NEC for agricultural industry chief executive officer, Mr David Madyausiku, said prior to the pay rise, workers in the agro-sector were being paid $105.

He said the minimum wage for workers in other sectors within the agricultural industry was still being negotiated through their respective social partners.

“The 15 percent was not generally increased for all employees. Each sector negotiates its own and comes up with their minimum wages so the agro-sector is the one that recently agreed on a minimum wage of $121, which was a 15 percent increase,” said Mr Madyausiku.

Zimbabwe has six agricultural sub-sectors that also include the general agriculture, kapenta, tea and coffee, timber and horticulture segments. The agro-sector involves farmers who process farm produce such as poultry products from the farms.

Mr Madyausiku said the effected minimum wage adjustment, which will also see the highest paid worker in the agro-sector earning $239 per month up from $208, was not an award because parties involved in the negotiations have agreed on that position.

“It’s not an award because parties do come and agree on a minimum wage and we also take the process of registering it with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. And after that, the agreement goes to the Attorney General for ratification before gazetting,” he said.

In coming up with the 15 percent minimum wage adjustment for the agro-sector, Mr Madyausiku said social partners who were involved in the negotiations looked at issues such as productivity and the general trend in terms of the economy.

“In actual fact, the employer and the employee come to the table to negotiate what they can actually afford. It was a welcome salary review by all the social partners who were involved in the discussions,” he said.

The social parties that were involved in the salary bargaining process included the Zimbabwe Agriculture Employers’ Organisation, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union, Commercial Farmers’ Union, General Agriculture and Plantations Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe, as well as the Horticulture, General Agriculture and Plantations Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe.

In a separate interview, the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union immediate past president, Mr Wonder Chabikwa, confirmed the minimum wage adjustment.

“I can confirm the review of the minimum wage and a circular has been issued to that effect,” he said.

— okazunga.