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'Minimum wage increase not political gimmick'
The Herald (Zimbabwe)
April 07, 2005

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=42320&pubdate=2005-04-07

THE Government yesterday said the gazetted domestic workers minimum wages of between $850 000 and $1,2 million is not a political gimmick.

This followed reports that the increase gazetted on Good Friday was meant to drum up support for Zanu-PF during the just-ended parliamentary elections.

The statement by the Government has put to rest speculation that the recently gazetted domestic wages would be slashed by 50 percent.

According to Statutory Instrument 42 of 2005, the increment will see a cook or housekeeper who resides at the employer’s premises getting a minimum wage of $850 000. Those residing elsewhere would get a minimum wage of $1 256 000 with effect from March 1 this year.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Cde Paul Mangwana said the increase was not political and as such was being effected in accordance to the gazetted figures.

"The Government has increased the minimum wage and this is not a political decision, but a Government decision backed by a statutory instrument.

"I am not aware of the 50 percent slash. The gazetted figures are Government’s position as of now," Cde Mangwana said.

The move was necessitated by the increase in the cost of living over the past few years, which has not spared the domestic workers as some of them have families, he added.

"When other workers in different sectors get salary increments, domestic workers are left out and as such they have been way far below the poverty datum line," said Cde Mangwana.

He defended the almost 1 000 percent increase, which is against the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s suggested maximum salary increase of 95 percent this year saying the latter percentage was meant for the general workforce. The domestic workers’ earnings were far too behind.

"A 95 percent increase would mean nothing to domestic workers as they were only getting a minimum of $90 000.

"The stipulation by the central bank is meant mainly for the generality of the other workers."

The minister also said those employers who could not afford to pay the minimum wage could apply for exemption through his ministry as it is provided for in the labour law.

"Those who cannot afford to pay the minimum wage can apply for exemption stating their reasons and evidence and we can consider such special cases," Cde Mangwana said.

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