Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
THE National Employment Council (NEC) for the agricultural industry in Zimbabwe has reviewed the minimum wage schedule and allowances for agricultural sector workers.
In a notice addressed to all general agriculture subsector employers and employees in the agricultural
industry in Zimbabwe, NEC Agriculture said the new minimum wages came into effect from June 1.
“We refer to the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) of June 1 of 2025 and announce the general agriculture sub-sector minimum wage schedule as at the July 22, 2025, interbank rate of US$1: 26,7891,” read the notice.
The 10 different worker grades in the grade schedules from A1 to C2 had minimum salaries reviewed from
US$75 to US$80 for the former lowest grade, while for the latter highest one, it rose from US$149 to US$159 per month.
The other grades’ wages were increased by between US$5 to US$10.
The NEC Agriculture revealed that workers must be paid 65 percent of their earnings in United States dollars (US$) and the 35 percent balance in local currency (ZiG).
The notice revealed that the accommodation allowance remained unchanged at US$38 or its local currency equivalent.
Fuel and light allowances were increased by US$1 each to US$12 and US$8 respectively.
“The cost of transport and travel and subsistence allowance will be paid by the employer, while for firearm and dog handling, the employee will get five percent of their basic monthly wage as allowance,” continued NEC Agriculture.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers union (ZCFU) president, Dr Shadreck Makombe, agreed that this was agreed upon between the workers’ representatives and the employers.
“Those farmers/employers who cannot afford it can apply for an exemption,” he disclosed.
Zimbabwe National Farmers union (ZNFU) president, Mrs Monica Chinamasa, said
this was a fair wage schedule considering the cost of living.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) chairman, Mr George Seremwe, said labour was an important cost driver and this slight increase will cut the profitability of agriculture production.
“It’s a tricky situation where farmers are caught between the need to remain viable as well as cater for their workers’ welfare.
“There is a need to seriously reflect on output prices so that we can pay our workers decent wages as labour was a significant cost builder,” he said.
Tobacco Farmers union Trust (TFUT) president, Mr Edward Dune, said the wages were increasingly becoming a burden to cash-strapped farmers.
“Some farmers are having to resort to paying their labour costs in kind due to a lack of funds.
“Such arrangements differ from one farm to another, depending on what items are easily accessed by the farmer in question,” disclosed Mr Dune.
Mr Dune said market distortions also contribute to gross inefficiencies of cash flows.
The liberalised market structure is a fairly new concept and unfortunately, the farming community still has to cope with the calamities needed to remain viable, he added.
Recently, farmer representatives petitioned the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) to include labour in the minimum input package. This came out of the realisation that labour costs about 15 percent of cost of production.
