By Admore Marambanyika

Perturbed by lack of commitment and honesty from government concerning the gazetting of the USD150-00 per month minimum wage which was recommended in October 2022 labour federations are now demanding an urgent meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The labour federations, ZCTU and ZFTU, in a joint letter addressed to the Minister of Labour Paul Mavima said social partners agreed that the minimum wage was to be gazetted but government had not done so.   

ZCTU acting secretary general, Kudakwashe Munengiwa ZFTU secretary general, Kenias Shamuyarira told Mavima that workers were agitated by delays in gazetting the minimum wage and were likely rise up in demand for as substantive minimum wage.

“On behalf of organized labour, we bring to your attention outstanding issues that have not been resolved after our last TNF meeting where we agreed that every worker must be paid at least US$150 per month.

“We are particularly unhappy that you have literary refused to gazette the agreed amount as a minimum wage and instead prefer to call it a guideline despite the fact that we agreed at TNF that it is in fact a minimum wage,” the labour unions said.

“Comrade Minister, workers out there are highly agitated and they might be forced to take the law into their own hands as the cost of living continues to spiral.

“We demand that you convene an urgent TNF meeting and arrange another meeting of organized labour with President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” the unions demanded.