Former Communication and Transport Deputy Minister Alfred Ndhlovu has advised government to come up with legislation that will enable employees to be paid according to their level of education.

Mr. Alfred Ndhlovu said government should set a minimum salary that will enable people to be paid according to their education levels saying this will help address the current low wages in the country.

Mr. Ndhlovu, a former Transport and Communications Deputy minister under Fredrick Chiluba said many workers in the country were being paid poor salaries despite their huge contributions saying this was tantamount to abuse of workers right.

He said paying the workers according to their educational levels will also enable parents put more value on education and thereby invest in their children.

Mr. Ndhlovu said this in a letter to chief government spokesperson Lt. Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha on Saturday.

He said slave salaries should cease and allow people live a good standard of living if the country is to attain the much needed development.

He said the low wages lead to poverty adding that this was a major contributing factors why rural areas are not developed.

Mr. Ndhlovu further said the current maize floor price of K 65,000 given to farmers by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is also not enough considering the high cost of inputs in the country.

He also said that he is happy that Information and Broadcasting Minister Lt. Gen Shikapwasha during the commemoration of the world press freedom day expressed concerns at the low wages journalists in the country were receiving.

In his letter the former deputy minister has proposed that those below grade 12 should be paid K 1 million per month, K1.8 million for Grade 12, K4.5 million for First workers with Diplomas/University Degree.

He further said Second University degree holders be paid K 6 million and PHD holders be paid K10 million per month.