Zimbabwe mine workers push for US$1,200 minimum salary

The National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NMWUZ) is pushing for a significant increase in wages for the country's lowest-paid mining employees, citing the erosion of earnings despite rising mineral prices on international markets.

Addressing the press, NMWUZ president Nhomboka said 2025 had been "a difficult and strenuous year" for workers whose salaries remain far below the poverty datum line, making it challenging to meet basic family needs. He noted that while metal prices have surged globally, salaries in the mining sector have remained stagnant.

In response, the union is demanding that the least-paid worker, typically a general hand, earn a minimum of US$1,200. Nhomboka emphasized that this figure reflects the value of the workers' hard labor and sacrifices, which he argued have long been underappreciated by mining companies.

The union is also advocating for a 100 percent increase in production-based bonuses, contingent on company targets. "We have realized and researched that workers in this regard are sweating but their hard work has been in vain," Nhomboka said, underscoring the need for fair compensation tied directly to productivity.

Beyond wages, the NMWUZ president called on mining companies to establish homeownership schemes for employees, particularly those in lower grades. "When a mining worker retires or passes on, their family often becomes destitute. A homeownership policy would provide security and stability for workers and their dependents," he said.

Nhomboka also criticized the entrenched educational inequalities within the sector, pointing to a "bottleneck education system" that favors children of top managers while lower-grade workers must pay for their children's schooling from limited salaries. He urged companies to implement policies covering school fees and educational materials for all employees' children to ensure equal opportunities for the next generation.

The union's proposals reflect growing discontent among mine workers and highlight the widening gap between management and labor in Zimbabwe's mining sector, with calls for both economic and social reforms to uplift lower-paid employees.