Minimum Wage – Zambia

Working Hours

Minimum wages of domestic workers is based on 48 work hours per week.

Definitions

1.Definition of Shop Workers- According to the revised Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act (Cap.276), Shop Workers are casual employees, part-time employees, employees with oral or written, express or implied contracts of service who are employed in any shop or in connection with the business of any shop in Zambia. Shop Workers are specifically catered for by Statutory Instrument (SI) 1 of 2011 that governs Wages and Conditions of Employment for the Shop Worker. 2.Covered of Shop Workers Order- The Order applies to casual employees, part-time employees, employees with oral or written, express or implied contracts of service who are employed in any shop or in connection with the business of any shop in Zambia. 3.Shop Workers Order does not apply to the following categories of employees: • Employees who are employed as an apprentice (as defined under the Employment Act) • Employees who work for or in connection with the motor trade or petroleum industry • Employees who work for non-profit / charitable bazaars or organisation that sell work • Employees who hawk or print newspapers, run coffee stores, hold a hawker’s license • Employees who sell / hawk produce on behalf of a bona fide farmer or market gardener • Employees who manufacture bread or bread stuff • Employees who receive store or treat fresh milk products, fish, meat, poultry, game, fruit or other perishable foodstuffs • Employees who deliver ice to hospitals and nursing institutions during the day or at night, • Employees who sell before midnight programmes, catalogues or refreshments in theatres, concert halls or other places of amusement during any performance • Employees who undergo collective bargaining (unionised workers) • Employees with a specific employment contract attested by the Ministry of Labour • Employees in management positions (as defined under the Industrial Relations Act)

MinimumWage Rates of Zambia remain unchanged as of 2015. Rates of 2012 shall apply till furthur notification.

Domestic workers are eligible for separation package and transport allowance

Source

The Employment Code (Shop Workers Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment) Order, 2023 The Employment Code (Domestic Workers Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment) Order, 2023 The Employment Code (General Workers Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment) Order, 2023

As per the new law for Domestic Workers the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (Domestic Workers) Order 2010 has been introduced for the first time. Domestic workers were not catered for in the old Act and their wages were determined by employers. The new order sets out the New Minimum Wage and Conditions of Employment for Domestic Workers.