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New wages for farm workers
The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)
March 15, 2006

http://www.chronicle.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=2648&cat=1&livedate=3/15/2006

THE Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare has consented to the new wages for farm workers that were proposed by the social parties of the National Employment Council (NEC) for the agricultural industry.

In an interview yesterday, General Agriculture Plantation Workers Union Zimbabwe deputy general secretary Mr Gift Muti encouraged employers to begin paying their workers the new wages.

"The Minister of Labour, Cde Nicholas Goche, has reviewed and consented to the wage proposals we sent to him and most farm employers are complying, but there have been a few problems in areas where some farmers are not sure of the new development. We, therefore, call upon all employers in agriculture to pay the legal wages," he said.

Farm workers will now receive a minimum wage of $1 300 000, up from $665 000.

Meanwhile, GAPWUZ has dismissed a report which appeared in The Standard newspaper, saying it was full of gross inaccuracies.

The deputy general secretary said there was no standing dispute between the labour movement and Chief Justice Chidyausiku and that such matters are not addressed by the agricultural NEC.

"Converse to suggestions by The Standard, we are not in conflict with Chief Justice Chidyausiku, but rather our officers had gone to his farm to investigate the allegations made by his workers. The alleged problems, if there are any, are yet to be established. Then, and only then, can the union take action.

"GAPWUZ has a legal mandate, proscribed in the Labour Relations Act, to visit farms and make inquiries that relate to the welfare of farm workers and we have done so since our formation in 1982, years before the Agricultural NEC came into being. As the representatives of farm workers we will pursue any issues concerning their plight," he said.

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