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Cabinet has approved the revised minimum wages and conditions of employment for Bus and Truck Drivers, aimed at addressing the rising cost of living and inflation.
Labour and Social Security Minister, Brenda Tambatamba, announced the development during a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday.
She emphasized that the decision was made following consultations with social partners in line with the principles of tripartism and social dialogue.
The revised wages were approved at the 25th Special Cabinet Meeting held on December 17, 2024.
Under the new wage structure, Bus Drivers, whose salary was previously K2,200, will now earn K3,000, while Truck Drivers will see their wages increase from K3,000 to K4,000.
Minister Tambatamba explained that the statutory instruments for minimum wages and employment conditions were reviewed every two years based on recommendations from the Labour Advisory Committee.
This process is in accordance with Section 101 of the Employment Code Act, which mandates the review of wages and conditions in various sectors.
“The Labour Advisory Committee’s role includes reviewing wages and conditions of employment for different sectors and recommending adjustments to the Minister.
“This review is necessary to keep pace with changes in the cost of living,” she said.
The Bus and Truck Drivers’ Statutory Instrument was last partially reviewed in 2022, making it due for another review in 2024.
The latest revision completes the set of minimum wage orders, following the review of Statutory Instruments for Domestic Workers, Shop Workers, and General Workers in November 2023, which became effective in January 2024.
Tambatamba also called on employers to allow employees to join trade unions and engage in collective bargaining, which takes into account the financial position of the company and its profits.
She urged employers to embrace union activities, as the minimum wage laws may not fully reflect the financial capacity of individual businesses.
Tambatamba noted that, while companies making good profits may face dissatisfaction from workers who feel underpaid, others may struggle to meet the statutory minimums.
The new statutory instrument, which also includes a list of dangerous goods in line with international standards, will become operational on April 10, 2025—three months after its publication.
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