By Meluse Kapatamoyo
Despite guarantees made by labour union leaders and government officials that the year 2009 would end with the announcement of the new minimum wage in Zambia, workers are yet to see that promise come true.
The minimum wage which currently stands at K260, 000 has been a source of concern for many workers who believe their employers based their salaries on the low minimum wage, without considering anything above that.
According to most employers, any wages above the stipulated minimum wage were within the confines of the law and could not be disputed by the workers.
Recently workers at LAMASAT International downed tools demanding a salary increment, among other issues. The striking workers said the K450, 300 they were paid monthly was not enough.
But LAMASAT managing director Mahmoud Ahmed said, “We pay our workers on time and these allegations are not true. On the salaries? Yes, I can confirm that they get K450, 300 per month.”
Ahmed is just one of thousands of foreign company owners taking advantage of the low minimum wage which currently exists in Zambia. Without changing this piece of legislation, employees working for foreign companies will continue to suffer.