Minors and Youth
Minimum Age for Employment
Minimum age for apprenticeship and for other employment is 16 years. The Zimbabwean Government, while ratifying Convention 138 on minimum age in 2000, specified the minimum age as 14 years.
The Labour Amendment Act 2023 (Act 11/2023) amended section 11(5) so that employing a young person against the provisions of law now carries a penalty of fine up to level 12 (US$2,000) and/or up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up from level 7 / 2 years.
Source: §11(1) of the Labour Act 1985; §3 of the Labour Amendment Act, 2015
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work, which is likely to jeopardise the child's health, safety or morals, is set as 18 years. The constitution also requires the state to take appropriate legislative measures to protect children from exploitative labour practices and ensure that children are not engaged in work that is inappropriate to their age and places at risk their well-being, education, physical or mental health and spiritual, moral or social development. The Constitution further states that every child below eighteen years of age has a right to be protected from economic and sexual exploitation, from child labour, from maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse; and education, health care services, nutrition and shelter.
Source: §19 & 81 (e & f) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Act, 2013; §11(4) of the Labour Act 1985
Regulations on Minors and Youth
- Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Act, 2013
- Labour Act 1985, last amended in 2015
