Zimbabwe bans short-term mining contracts

Zimbabwe's mining industry has introduced sweeping labour reforms banning the use of consecutive one-month employment contracts, in a move designed to improve job security for mineworkers.

The changes are contained in Statutory Instrument 71 of 2026, a collective bargaining agreement registered under the Labour Act and now in force following publication in the Government Gazette.

The new rules stipulate that all employment contracts in the mining sector must be for a minimum period of 12 months, except in cases involving genuine casual, seasonal or project-based work. Any contract below the threshold that does not meet these conditions will automatically be treated as a permanent contract.

The agreement also limits the renewal of fixed-term contracts to two extensions, after which an employee is deemed to be permanently employed on an indefinite contract.

Labour stakeholders say the reforms are aimed at closing long-standing loopholes that allowed some mining companies to keep workers on repeated 30-day contracts for years, denying them benefits such as annual leave, housing allowances and job security.

Under the new framework, workers on contracts longer than one year are entitled to annual leave rather than cash payouts upon termination, while notice periods have been standardised depending on contract length.

The reforms also strengthen enforcement mechanisms, requiring employers to issue written contracts to employees and keep copies available for inspection. Disputes over employment status will be handled by the National Employment Council for the Mining Industry, whose rulings are binding.

Labour unions, including the Associated Mine Workers of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Diamond & Allied Minerals Workers Union, have welcomed the changes, saying they address exploitative practices that have suppressed wages and weakened collective bargaining for years.

Employers may still apply for exemptions through the National Employment Council, but only after consultation with workers and submission of audited financial records.

The agreement replaces earlier collective bargaining instruments dating back to the 1990s and is expected to significantly reshape employment practices in one of Zimbabwe's most important economic sectors.