Labour Commissioner Givens Muntengwa says Private schools that intend to pay their teachers half salaries for January must engage their employees and ensure that they reach an agreement.
Mr Muntengwa said employers and employees must agree if the schools have financial challenges on when the other half of the salary will be paid.
He said employer’s decision of cutting their employees’ salaries without consent is contrary to the employment code act number three of 2019.
Mr Muntengwa said for any employer to even decide to pay half salary, they must be proof that they have financial challenges and agree with the employees that the other half will be paid when their financial situation stabilizes.
He said that some private schools have told their teachers that they will only pay them half salary because of a two weeks delay in re-opening of schools owing to Covid-19 outbreak.