Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, has said the government’s proposed US$150 minimum wage across all sectors is insufficient.
The government said the US$150 can be paid either in Zimbabwe dollars or foreign currency at the prevailing bank rate.
Speaking during a post-cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said:
Pertaining to salaries and wages, here are some of the recommendations:- that a guide be provided to all bargaining platforms across all sectors to strive towards pegging the minimum wage at US$150.00 payable either in ZWL$ or at the prevailing bank rate.
In response to the proposition, Mahere, a former Law lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said:
$150? That’s inadequate. No wonder the @WorldBank found that half of Zimbabweans live in extreme poverty. This is not enough. It can’t even cover one child’s school fees let alone food, rent, electricity & basic living expenses. We need new leaders.
Other observers said the government must set a minimum wage which corresponds with conditions in the country.
Some said in a country where “90 per cent of people are unemployed”, a high minimum wage chases away investment.
Government workers have since 2019 when the Zimbabwe dollar was reintroduced, been at loggerheads with the employer demanding restoration of their pre-October 2018 salaries which were around US$540.