HARARE – A landmark agreement for the mining industry has officially been registered, introducing modernised rules for thousands of workers across the country. Known as Statutory Instrument 71 of 2026, this Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) replaces decades-old regulations from 1990 and 1993, aiming to bring mining labour practices into the 21st century.
Here is a layman’s guide to the major changes and rules now in effect.
Fair Pay and the “Dollar Value” Rule
One of the most significant pillars of this deal is the “dollar value principle.” This ensures that if a company is already paying its workers more than the industry minimum, it must still apply any newly agreed-upon pay increases on top of those higher rates.
- Grade System: Workers are categorised into 13 grades across different sectors, like skilled trades and general mining.
- Acting Pay: If an employee is asked to fill a higher-level role temporarily (acting), they must be paid the higher rate for the entire time they perform those duties.
A Hard Line on Child Labour
The agreement sets strict new standards to protect children. No one under 18 years old can be employed in the mining industry, except as an apprentice or for specific vocational training.
Prohibited Tasks: Even as apprentices, those under 18 are strictly banned from “hazardous work,” including underground mining, night shifts, and using heavy power tools or grinding blades.
Stronger Protection for Contract Workers
To prevent the “perpetual contract” trap, the agreement introduces new limits on short-term hiring:
- Standard Length: All standard contracts must be for at least 12 months.
- Automatic Permanency: An employer can only renew a contract twice. If a worker is kept on beyond two renewals, they are automatically considered a permanent employee with a contract “without limit of time”.
- Termination Notice: Depending on how long you’ve worked there, notice periods range from one day (for casual/short-term work) to three months (for those employed over two years).
Working Hours and Benefits
The “new normal” for a mining work week is set at 48 hours.
- Overtime and Rest: If you are asked to work on a normal day off or a public holiday, you are entitled to double pay (twice the current wage).
- Shift Work: To protect health, employees cannot be forced to work night shifts for more than four consecutive weeks without their consent.
- Allowances: The deal outlines specific extra payments for stand-by duty (being available for emergencies) and a 10% premium for those working night shifts (between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.).
Workplace Harmony: The “Works Council”
Every mine must now have a Works Council, which is a committee made up of an equal number of management and worker representatives. Their job is to solve problems before they become massive disputes and to consult on major changes like new technology, plant closures, or mergers.
Housing and Rentals
For workers living in mine-provided housing, the agreement caps what bosses can charge:
- Newer Housing: For homes 20 years old or less, rent is capped at 5% of the worker’s minimum wage.
- Older Housing: For homes older than 20 years, employers can only charge a service fee of 2.5%.
This agreement is binding for all employers and employees in the mining industry, regardless of whether they belong to a union or an employer’s organisation. It aims to balance “productivity and job security” while ensuring that the “fundamental rights of employees” are respected on every mine site in the country.
