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Business Reporter
Thousands of workers in various agricultural sectors have received a wage adjustment to cushion them against the rising cost of living as the National Employment Council (NEC) for Agriculture steps up efforts to ensure productivity on farms.
The wage reviews were achieved following months of negotiations between the employees and employers. In 2019, farm workers’ allowances and wages were increased three times as a result of the NEC for Agriculture’s interventions.
According to the new wage structure, horticulture workers in grade A1 will now earn $559 up from $365, while those in grade C2 will take home $1 106 from $722.
NEC for Agriculture chief executive officer David Madyausiku, said the least paid worker in the sugar cane sector will earn $700 and the highest paid gets $1 652, while those in the timber sector will be paid between $675 and $1 339.
Wages were also increased in the general agriculture, agro and tea and coffee sectors.
Some employers have also introduced non-monetary incentives such as groceries for their workers.
“Despite some setback, the NEC for Agriculture has continued to soar and focused on transforming the industry. In 2019, we established the sugar cane sector, which sought to improve the industrial relations between sugar cane farmers and workers. We made headway in wage agreements negotiations and concluded 22 agreements to meet the rising inflationary pressures,” Madyausiku said.
The NEC for Agriculture is also in the process of amending Statutory Instrument 116 of 2014 to align it with the Labour Act to enhance harmonious working relations between the employer and employees.
This comes at a time when the council has decentralised wage negotiations to areas where a specific sector is based for example workers in the sugar cane sector are now discussing their issues in Chiredzi, while those in tea and coffee do so from Chipinge.
The decentralisation process is in line with Government’s devolution thrust.
He added that apart from wage increases for workers, the council has moved to create better working conditions through an occupational safety and health code which is set to be launched in April 2020.
Madyausiku said the new code will be implemented in all agricultural sectors, such as general agriculture, horticulture, tea, coffee plantation, kapenta, agro-processing, animal husbandry, sugar cane growing, wildlife conservancy, timber production and crocodile farming.
As he puts it: “The code shall apply to the primary processing of agricultural and animal products, maintenance of machinery, equipment, appliances, tools, agriculture installations, storage, operation or transportations related to agriculture production and any other agricultural activities.
“The provisions of the code shall apply in respect of all workers in agricultural enterprises, whether seasonal, casual, temporarily employed for limited periods/durations, contractors or permanent employees. It will be applicable to all agricultural enterprises irrespective of size and it is intended to provide protection to all workers irrespective of their employment status.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter