The mining sector has adopted a revised wage structure following the conclusion of negotiations between labour unions and employers under the National Employment Council (NEC) for the Mining Industry.
The reviewed salary structure, agreed on July 9 by the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (AMWUZ), the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
“This notice serves to bring to your attention that the following new minimum rates for Grades 1–13 were agreed upon and pegged in United States dollars by the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union and the Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe. It was reached on 9 July 2026 and will be subsequently sent to the Ministry of Labour and Social Services for registration and publication,” reads part of the NEC circular.
The agreement will now be submitted to the Ministry of Labour and Social Services for registration and publication.
Under the new wage structure, employees in Grade One will earn a minimum monthly salary of US$418, while those in Grade Six will receive US$465 and Grade Seven employees US$484.
Workers in the upper salary bands will receive significantly higher wages, with Grade 12 employees earning a minimum of US$911 per month and those in Grade 13 taking home US$971.
According to the NEC circular the agreement provides for periodic wage reviews in line with prevailing economic conditions in the mining industry and retains the exemption provisions under Clause 6 of the principal agreement.
Under the exemption framework, approved non-foreign currency-generating mining companies may pay the US dollar-denominated minimum wage in Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG) at the prevailing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe interbank exchange rate. Foreign currency-generating companies may also be exempted from the dual-currency payment requirement and instead pay the full minimum wage in US dollars.
The agreement is expected to provide greater certainty for employers and workers while maintaining flexibility to respond to changes in the operating environment.
