Collective Bargaining Agreement Salaries and Wages Tobacco

This collective bargaining agreement for the cigarette and tobacco manufacturing industry, published under section 80 of the Labour Act, further amends the principal agreement in S.I. 121 of 2013. It is deemed to have come into effect on 1 October 2024 and applies to 31 December 2024, and was signed at Harare on 22 October 2024 — gazetted in August 2025.

The council agreed to maintain grade minimums at their existing level for the period. The basic wage is an all-inclusive wage denominated in US dollars, running from US$433,14 at grade 1 division 1 to US$557,20 at grade 10 division 2, unchanged across the January–June, July–September and October–December 2024 periods.

At least 75 per cent of the basic wage must be paid in US dollars with effect from 1 January 2024, with the remainder converted to ZWG at the Willing Buyer Willing Seller rate on the date of payment or on the 15th of the month, whichever is higher; the NEC publishes monthly ZWG rate schedules. Employers must also pay at least 75 per cent of council levies and trade union dues in US dollars.

On top of the grades, a cost-of-living adjustment of US$15,00 across the board was awarded for the period, payable in USD or ZWG at the prevailing rate on the date of payment, and a night shift allowance is calculated at 15 per cent of the daily rate for the period actually worked at night.