Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery (Agriculture) Convention, 1951 (No. 99) - Zimbabwe (Ratification: 1993)

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Minimum wage fixing machinery for the agricultural sector. The Committee recalls the observations made by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) according to which all efforts to increase the agricultural minimum wage are facing resistance from the employers, and, as a result, farm workers massively migrate to neighbouring countries or join the informal sector. In its reply, the Government indicates that employer and employee representatives continue to engage in wage negotiations under the auspices of the bipartite National Employment Council (NEC) for Agriculture and have recently agreed on new minimum wages for the agricultural sector ranging from US$90 to $179 per month. The Committee understands that the agreement of 15 June 2012 fixing the new minimum wage rates amends the principal collective bargaining agreement for the agricultural industry (Statutory Instrument No. 323 of 1993). In this respect, the Committee notes that the agreement of 15 June 2012 provides that an employer can apply to the NEC within 14 days for an exemption or partial exemption from paying the new wages stating the reasons why that application should be considered. In addition, the Committee notes that under section 27 of Statutory Instrument No. 323 of 1993, the NEC may, in its sole discretion, and, upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, grant exemption in writing from any of the provisions of this agreement to any employer or employee. Recalling that under Article 3(4) of the Convention, minimum rates of wages which have been fixed shall be binding on the employers and workers concerned so as not to be subject to abatement, the Committee requests the Government to consider appropriate steps to ensure that full effect is given to this requirement of the Convention. The Committee would also be interested in receiving information concerning the grounds on which and the extent to which exemptions from the payment of the statutory minimum wage may have been granted so far.