Zimbabwe Mine Workers Get Wage Increase as NEC Pegs Minimum Salaries in US Dollars
Zimbabwe’s mining industry workers are set to receive wage increases after labour unions and employers agreed on new minimum salaries for 2026, with wages now pegged in United States dollars under a dual-currency framework.
By Ryan Chigoche
The National Employment Council (NEC) for the Mining Industry announced that the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (AMWUZ), the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU), and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe reached an agreement on new minimum rates of pay for Grades 1 to 13 on July 9, 2026. The agreement covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2026 and will be submitted to the Ministry of Labour and Social Services for registration and publication.
Under the agreement, minimum wages for mining employees increased by 5% for the first half of the year and a further 7% for the second half, with all adjustments based on the US dollar value principle.
For the period January to June 2026, the minimum monthly wage for a Grade 1 employee rose from US$391.39 to US$410.96, while a Grade 13 employee’s minimum wage increased from US$907.77 to US$953.15. From July to December 2026, minimum monthly wages were further adjusted, with Grade 1 rising to US$418.78 and Grade 13 reaching US$971.31.
The agreement requires foreign-currency-generating mining companies to pay workers using a dual-currency system comprising both US dollar and ZiG components. Non-foreign-currency-generating companies may apply for exemption and, if approved, will be allowed to pay the full minimum wage in ZiG at the prevailing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe interbank exchange rate on the date of payment.
The NEC also retained service increments for long-serving employees. Workers with more than two years of service with the same employer will receive additional increments ranging from 2% after two years of service to a cumulative 12% after 25 years.
Employers have been instructed to implement the revised deductions and contributions, including Mining Industry Pension Fund contributions and NEC dues set at 0.6% of the applicable grade minimum wage. Any shortfalls are to be backdated to January 1, 2026.
The agreement includes an exemption clause allowing qualifying non-foreign-currency-generating mining companies to seek relief from dual-currency payment obligations, reflecting efforts to accommodate varying operating conditions across the sector. Employers capable of paying above the NEC minimum rates have also been encouraged to do so.
