Minimum wage in Zambia in 2026
1,487.00 ZMW per month1
per monthGeneral rate since January 1, 2024
Applies to: General Order category I (general worker n.e.s., cleaner, helper, handy person, office orderly, service station attendant) and category II (security guard); employees not covered by a collective agreement or another minimum wage order
No scheduled increase on record.
Year 2026
Rates in force during 2026
| Applies to | Rate | Effective | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
General Order category I (general worker n.e.s., cleaner, helper, handy person, office orderly, service station attendant) and category II (security guard); employees not covered by a collective agreement or another minimum wage orderSource: Employment Code (Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment) (General) Order, 2023, Statutory Instrument 48 of 2023(a) category I seven Kwacha and fifteen ngwee (K7.15) per hour or one thousand, four hundred and eighty seven Kwacha (K1,487.00) per month, for a person engaged
Verified September 27, 2026 | 1,487.00 ZMW/ monthJanuary 1, 2024 – current | January 1, 2024 | current |
7 rates in force
Rates by worker type, industry and employer size
The highest rate that fits the job applies.
| Applies to | Rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| All industries | ||
General Order category I (general worker n.e.s., cleaner, helper, handy person, office orderly, service station attendant) and category II (security guard); employees not covered by a collective agreement or another minimum wage orderSource: Employment Code (Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment) (General) Order, 2023, Statutory Instrument 48 of 2023(a) category I seven Kwacha and fifteen ngwee (K7.15) per hour or one thousand, four hundred and eighty seven Kwacha (K1,487.00) per month, for a person engaged
Verified September 27, 2026 | 1,487.00 ZMW/ monthJanuary 1, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
General Order category I (general worker n.e.s., cleaner, helper, handy person, office orderly, service station attendant) and category II (security guard); employees not covered by a collective agreement or another minimum wage orderSource: Employment Code (Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment) (General) Order, 2023, Statutory Instrument 48 of 2023(a) category I seven Kwacha and fifteen ngwee (K7.15) per hour or one thousand, four hundred and eighty seven Kwacha (K1,487.00) per month, for a person engaged
Verified September 27, 2026 | 7.15 ZMW/ hourJanuary 1, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
| domestic work | ||
Domestic workersSource: Press statement by the Minister of Labour and Social Security on the revision and formulation of the minimum wages, 6 November 2023DOMESTIC WORKERS K1,100 200.00 1,300.00
Verified September 27, 2026 | 1,100.00 ZMW/ monthJanuary 1, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
| shops establishments | ||
Shop Workers Order category I (lowest grade, e.g. wrapping/packing, delivery vehicle assistant, general worker in a shop); non-unionised shop employeesSource: Employment Code (Shop Workers Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment) Order, 2023, Statutory Instrument 50 of 2023(a) category I seven Kwacha and fifteen ngwee (K7.15) per hour or one thousand, four hundred and eight seven Kwacha (K1,487.00) per month, for a person engaged
Verified September 27, 2026 | 1,487.00 ZMW/ monthJanuary 1, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
Shop Workers Order category I (lowest grade, e.g. wrapping/packing, delivery vehicle assistant, general worker in a shop); non-unionised shop employeesSource: Employment Code (Shop Workers Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment) Order, 2023, Statutory Instrument 50 of 2023(a) category I seven Kwacha and fifteen ngwee (K7.15) per hour or one thousand, four hundred and eight seven Kwacha (K1,487.00) per month, for a person engaged
Verified September 27, 2026 | 7.15 ZMW/ hourJanuary 1, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
| transport | ||
Truck drivers (public service vehicles licensed to carry goods), non-unionisedSource: Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (Truck and Bus Drivers) (Amendment) Order, 2024, Statutory Instrument 3 of 20254. The minimum monthly basic pay to be paid to a driver of a — (a) truck is four thousand kwacha; and (6) bus is three thousand kwacha.
Verified September 27, 2026 | 4,000.00 ZMW/ monthApril 11, 2025 | April 11, 2025 |
Bus drivers (public service vehicles licensed to carry 40 or more passengers), non-unionisedSource: Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (Truck and Bus Drivers) (Amendment) Order, 2024, Statutory Instrument 3 of 20254. The minimum monthly basic pay to be paid to a driver of a — (a) truck is four thousand kwacha; and (6) bus is three thousand kwacha.
Verified September 27, 2026 | 3,000.00 ZMW/ monthApril 11, 2025 | April 11, 2025 |
2 questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Zambia in 2026?
1,487.00 ZMW per month since January 1, 2024.
Is the minimum wage in Zambia increasing?
No increase is scheduled on record as of October 1, 2026. Inflation-indexed jurisdictions announce the next figure a few months before it takes effect.
1 level of law
How this rate is resolved
The highest minimum that covers the work location applies.
Employers must pay the highest minimum that covers the work location. WageTable checks each level in turn:
- Zambia
Zambia sets 7 rules of its own.
Notes on this jurisdiction's rules and sources
Minimum wages are set per group by Employment Code (s 106) orders for non-unionised employees; there is no single national rate. Published rows are the lowest category (basic pay per month and per hour, excluding the statutory transport, lunch and 30% housing allowances) of the General Order (S.I. 48 of 2023) and the Shop Workers Order (S.I. 50 of 2023), both in operation 1 January 2024; the domestic worker basic pay (K1,100 per month) from the Minister's press statement of 6 November 2023; and truck and bus driver basic pay from S.I. 3 of 2025 (in operation 11 April 2025). Higher categories (III-VII / shop grades) and pre-2024 orders (2011, 2018) are not published. The Ministry's Acts page lists no later general order as of 2026-09-27.
Zambia
Enforcement
Enforced by Ministry of Labour and Social Security.