By Alois Vinga

THE National Employment Council for the Agricultural Industry of Zimbabwe has awarded employees a salary increment of 75.4 % in a bid to cushion them from the ever rising costs of living.

According to a latest Collective Bargaining Agreement published in the government gazette, the Labour Minister recently approved the agreement published in statutory instrument 116 of 2020, registered in terms of section 79 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01].

“The least paid workers under grade A1 will be earning $465 up from $265 while those in grade A2 $ 283 to $497 .Workers in the middle band who used to earn $300 will now be earning around $500 while the highest paid workers in grade C 2 who used to earn around $523 to $918,” said the agreement.

Both employees and employers have been given room to apply to the National Employment Council within 14 days for an exemption from paying wages as set up in the above schedule, stating the reasons why that application should be considered.

The representatives between the sector's employers through Zimbabwe Agricultural Employers Organisation, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union, Zimbabwe Farmers Union and Commercial Farmers Union as “ the employers.

On the employees' side, the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers' Union of Zimbabwe and Horticulture, General Agriculture and Plantation Workers' Union of Zimbabwe were the representatives.