• The new minimum wages for domestic workers is now K1, 300 from K993.60.
• Approval follows the past tripartite Consultative Labour Council meeting.
• Minimum wages which have been announced only apply to vulnerable categories of employees

Government has approved the upward adjustment of minimum wages for domestic and shop workers as well as employees covered under the general order.
Speaking at a media briefing, Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba said the approval follows the past tripartite Consultative Labour Council meeting that took place on 21st December, 2022.
Ms. Tambatamba revealed that the new minimum wages for domestic workers is now K1, 300 from K993.60, security guard K2, 313.10 from K1, 698.60, Assistant Sales persons, parker or Book binder K2, 722.57 from K1, 994.40, while drivers and farm attendant will now be getting K3, 135 from the old gross pay of K2, 286.60.
She said other categories include qualified Clerk whose pay has moved to K4, 099.77 from K3, 151.61, sales person K3, 865.20 from K2, 973.90, Typist or Receptionist K3, 365.96 from K2, 451.30, General worker K2, 313.10 from K1, 698.60 among other categories.
Ms. Tambatamba stated that the minimum wages and conditions of employment for truck and bus drivers was considered but the labour advisory committee resolved to carry out a comparative analysis with other countries within the COMESA region to benchmark best practices.
“Labour Advisory Committee (LAC) tasked Zambia Institute for Policy and Research (ZIPAR) to gather more information in order to adequately guide the committee to come up with appropriate recommendations on the formulation of the sector based minimum wages for the Information Communication and Technologies (ICT) and mining sectors,” Ms. Tambatamba stated.
She noted that LAC also resolved that the draft statutory instrument for agriculture sector must be subjected to further consultations with key stakeholders, adding that the minimum wages which have been announced only apply to vulnerable categories of employees and do not extend to the unionized employees.
“I wish to implore the employers and workers who are covered under the minimum wages and conditions of employment orders to exercise patience as Government finalize the process to revise the minimum wages,” she said.