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Adelaide Moyo, Business Reporter
THE National Employment Council for the tourism industry has set April 26 for salary negotiations in the sector.
The negotiations had been slated for April 4, but were postponed.
Tour and safari operators have proposed reducing workers’ salaries citing weak performance by the industry, but workers are pushing for an 80 percent increment.
The last pay hike in the industry was in 2012.The pay cut the Employers’ Association for Tourism and Safari Operators (EATSO) says is likely to be temporary has been criticised by workers in Victoria Falls, who argue that their earnings are already too low to be adjusted downwards.
EATSO president Clement Mukwasi said business was low and the decision to trim salaries was a bid to ensure their survival.
He said tourism players were also revising their pricing models to serve different markets as part of their survival strategy.
The lowest paid worker in the tourism sector earns about $200 per month; with no other benefits as 90 percent are contract workers.
Employers argue that any pay rise should be based on productivity and the rate of inflation.
“It’s anticipated that the country will experience deflation due to reduced demand and the best option for employers would have been to reduce wages,” said Mukwasi.
Most workers want an adjustment of their housing and transport allowances that are pegged at $47 and $37 respectively. The sector has been subdued because of a decrease in tourist arrivals, and is further compounded by a 15 percent VAT on accommodation, which makes the country an expensive destination.
Mukwasi said tourism is seasonal and its fruits are reaped periodically.
“We don’t want anyone to be fired or companies to retrench any workers, thus we’re negotiating for a salary cut because business has been depressed and revenue is low.
“We want to balance the scale between keeping jobs and operations of businesses. We don’t think it’s fair for any change of payroll,” said Mukwasi.”
“There has been a delay of almost three weeks due to circumstances beyond our control. We’re still consulting companies because most of our clients wanted a salary reduction, while employees wanted an increment.
“We’re still doing internal negotiations as employers and employees have to eventually come up with a position that’s acceptable to both sides across the industry,” he said.
Mukwasi said the industry had been affected by company closures, the liquidity crunch and fall of the South African rand.
A member of the workers’ negotiating team Edward Dzapasi said they would push for at least $197 for housing and transport allowances.
“Every year the employer tells us there’s no money because business is low coupled with inflation and tax.
“We understand business is seasonal, but there hasn’t been any adjustment since 2012 and all we’re asking for is a minimum wage hike,” said Dzapasi.
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