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Wilson Dakwa, Business Reporter
REPRESENTATIVES of workers and employers in the tourism sector will next week meet to discuss a possible review of salaries.
In an interview, Employers’ Association of Tourism and Safari Operators president Mr Clement Mukwasi said the meeting was meant to discuss the issue of salaries as employees have been pressuring for a review citing increase in cost of living.
“We will meet with representatives from employers’ organisations and trade unions to discuss and review salaries of employees in the sector. The meeting will be held in Harare,” said Mr Mukwasi.
Last year, workers in the tourism sector were awarded a minimum of $6 which was a 1,5 percent salary increase. This saw sector one A (leisure) employees’ lowest paid earning about $260 up from $206, sector one B (hunting) got a basic salary of $206 up from $200 while sector two (conservation) got a basic salary of $122 per month.
The increases were informed by three factors namely that were the stability of the industry, inflation and basic salaries.
Over the years, these factors have resulted in the sector’s brain drain as human resources such as waiters and hotel managers continued to migrate to neighbouring countries.
Mr Mukwasi said that the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry’s re-grading of hotels exercise will also affect salaries. He said if a hotel is stripped of some stars, the salaries of the employees also have to be slashed and if stars are added, the salaries will have to be increased.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukwasi also bemoaned the number of licences required in the tourism sector, adding that these were increasing the cost of doing business. He also urged licensing bodies to implement reforms which will fast-track the issuing of licences.
“For one to be fully licensed in this sector, he/she needs to have about 22 licences and this increases the cost of doing business as these licences have to be renewed annually. There is also a need for the various licensing authorities to relook their systems so that we are able to apply for licence renewal online and also not have to wait three months for us to get the licenxe after paying for the renewal. For convenience’s sake, an independent licensing authority has to be set up and be in-charge of all the licensing,” said Mr Mukwasi.-@WilsonDakwa1
derick.khumalo