The government has approved the recommendation to increase the minimum wages and conditions of service for bus and truck drivers in the country.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba announced this afternoon that the government had approved the recommendation for the review of the minimum wages for bus and truck drivers, considering the new cost of living and rate of inflation in Zambia.
“I wish to update the nation that Cabinet, at its 25th special meeting on the 17th of December 2024, approved the recommendation by the Minister of Labour and Social Security to revise the minimum wages and conditions of employment for bus and truck drivers in order to take into account the cost of living and inflationary matters,” Tambatamba said.
Following the revision of the minimum wages, bus drivers will receive a minimum of K3,000, up from the previous K2,200, on a monthly basis.
Truck drivers’ wages have been increased from K3,000 to K4,000 monthly, while accommodation allowances have also been improved from US$25 to US$30 per night.
Tambatamba disclosed that the minimum wages for bus and truck drivers had been due for review since 2024, with the government having only reviewed the nominal wages for domestic workers, shopkeepers, and general workers last year.
“It is important to note that the statutory instruments are to be reviewed every two years upon recommendations from the labour advisory committee, according to the provisions of Section 101 of the Employment Code Act,” she said.
She continued: “The review of the bus and truck drivers’ legislation therefore completes the set of minimum wage orders for employees falling under the regulation of the statutory instruments.”
The minister further called on employers in the country to support and encourage their workers to join trade unions in order to improve the labour movement.
“We wish to make a clarion call that employers must allow employees to join trade unions and engage in collective bargaining, which takes into consideration a company’s financial position vis-à-vis the profit made so that employees benefit from what they have contributed to the business,” she said.
She insisted that it is critical for employees to join trade unions to ensure equity and satisfaction on both sides.
“There can be discontentment on the part of workers in a company that is reaping good profits, as they would feel shortchanged, or the opposite is true, that equally companies may also struggle to meet the requirements of minimum wage,” she concluded.