By Staff Reporter

The National Employment Council for the Agricultural Industry in Zimbabwe has approved a marginal increase on the minimum wages and allowances for the horticulture sub-sector.

The wage increment is backdated with effect from May 1, 2025.

The government has released Statutory Instrument 48 of 2026 (CAP. 28:01), Collective Bargaining Agreement: Agricultural Industry: Horticulture Subsector, which reads: “It is hereby notified that the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has, in terms of section 80(1) of the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01), approved the publication of the Collective Bargaining Agreement set out in the Schedule, which was registered in terms of section 79 of the Act.

“The employer parties and the employee parties, being parties to the National Employment Council for the Agricultural Industry in Zimbabwe, have agreed on the following provisions concerning minimum wages in the horticulture sub-sector, effective May 1, 2025.

“The minimum wage for the horticulture sub-sector shall be increased from US$94 to US$99, payable in a component of 80 percent United States dollars (US$) and a US$ component of 20 percent convertible to the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency according to the prevailing interbank rate on the date of payment. Entities with capacity can pay 100 percent in US$ dollars.”

The sector has 10 different worker grades from A1 to C2 and the least wage has been reviewed from US$94 to US$99 for the former lowest grade (A1), while for the highest grade (C2), it rose from US$186 to US$196 per month.

Accommodation allowance marginally rose from US$38 to US$42 with effect from February 2025 while fuel and light allowances were increased by US$2 each to US$13 and US$9, respectively. The employer will also bear the cost of transport and travel and subsistence allowance.

“Establishments or employees may apply for exemption or partial exemption/review from paying wages as prescribed in the above schedule, stating the reasons why that application should be considered, within 14 days of the date of the agreement to the National Employment Council. This agreement is binding on all organisations within the agricultural industry,” read the notice.

An additional five percent to the wage has been added to dog handlers and those employees who use firearms.