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Chronicle Reporter

THE National Employment Council for the Mining Industry has set a minimum wage structure for mining workers pegged in United States dollars.

The proposed structure affects workers who fall under grades 1-13 and was agreed by the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe on March 13.

“This notice serves to bring to your attention that the following new minimum rates of pay for grades 1-13 were agreed upon and pegged in US dollars by the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, on 13 March, 2023 and will be subsequently sent to the Ministry of Labour and Social Services for Registration and Publication,” it said in a circular.

According to the circular, the salaries in local currency range from $217 299 to $503 994 while in US$ they range from US$355 to US$823,37.

The agreement is subject to review in terms of Section 3 (2) of Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990 based on the prevailing economic situation in the Mining Industry, it added.

“The agreement carries an Exemption Clause as stipulated in the Principal Agreement, Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990, Clause 6 (Exemptions, Variations and Savings).

The circular states that foreign currency generating companies shall pay the new minimum wages in both US dollar and local currency.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)

Non- foreign currency generating companies, upon being granted an exemption, maybe allowed to pay the full US dollar amount in local currency using the official Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) auction rate.

“Those employers who are able to pay more than the NEC minimums are encouraged to do so.