The Zimbabwe Domestic and Allied Workers Union (ZDAWU) has strongly condemned the government’s newly gazetted minimum wage for domestic workers, describing the US$90 monthly salary as inadequate and degrading amid rising living costs.
Government approved revised minimum wages and conditions of employment for domestic workers and employees in unclassified operations on June 16, 2026, with the changes taking immediate effect. Under the new wage structure, domestic workers, yard workers and gardeners will earn a minimum of US$90 per month.
However, ZDAWU says the new wages fall far short of what workers need to survive and reflect a lack of commitment to improving the welfare of one of the country’s most vulnerable labour groups.
ZDAWU Deputy General Secretary Mr Toindepi Dhure did not mince his words, describing the wage review as a setback for workers’ rights.
“This is a condemnation to slavery. These are not wages, but a price tag on domestic workers’ dignity. Domestic workers reject this humiliation,” said Mr Dhure.
He argued that the revised wages fail to take into account the prevailing economic realities and escalating cost of living faced by workers across the country.
Mr Dhure said the latest wage determination highlighted the urgent need for the establishment of a National Employment Council (NEC) for domestic workers to provide a platform for collective bargaining and the resolution of labour issues affecting the sector.
The criticism follows a Cabinet decision announced by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services after its June 16 meeting.
In a statement, Cabinet said it had approved revised minimum wages and related conditions of employment for domestic workers and workers in unclassified operations.
Under the new wage structure, cooks and housekeepers will earn a minimum of US$99 per month, while child minders and caregivers for persons with disabilities and the elderly will receive at least US$108.
Caregivers for persons with disabilities and the elderly who hold a Red Cross certificate will earn the highest minimum wage in the domestic work sector at US$117 per month.
Government also set the minimum wage for workers in unclassified operations at US$270 per month, payable in local currency.
While authorities say the review is aimed at regulating employment conditions within the sector, labour representatives maintain that the approved wages remain insufficient to guarantee a decent standard of living for domestic workers and their families.
