Govt warns employers to implement revised minimum wage or face K60,000 penalty

Government has implored employers in the country to ensure that the revised minimum wages were implemented within the confines of the labour laws.

The Labour Commissioner, Givens Muntengwa, warned that failure by companies to implement the revised minimum wages starting this monthend would lead to the accumulation of arrears.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, Muntengwa said if found wanting, the Ministry would charge non-compliant companies an administrative penalty of not less than K60,000.

He said government did not promulgate the statutory instruments to stifle economic growth but to encourage productivity in the labour market as seen by the introduction of hourly rates.

The Labour Commissioner stated that this meant that employees shall not only be paid the monthly salaries as it was then but now they would be paid for the hours they have worked for.

“This, therefore, on one hand promotes productivity and on the other seeks to motivate employees to work hard for they will be paid for the effort put in”, Muntengwa explained.

He said the Ministry, would strive to find ways of building the relationship between employers and employees because without harmony, there can never be productivity.

Muntengwa further stated that the employees’ rights should be protected and at the same time employees should co-operate with management as provided for by the Industrial and Labour Relations Act.

On the other hand, he said that government recognized the efforts made by the private sector in rebuilding the economy which ultimately creates job opportunities.

“It was for that reason that recently government promulgated the National Pension Scheme (Penalty Waiver) Regulations Statutory Instrument No. 3 of 2024, in order to give relief to the companies who have outstanding NAPSA obligations so long the requirements stated in the Statutory Instruments are met,” Muntengwa said.

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