HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WAGES 
COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION ġ S.L.452.54 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 452.54
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WAGES COUNCIL 
WAGE REGULATION ORDER
22nd August, 1977
LEGAL NOTICE 115 of 1977, as amended by Legal Notice 53 of 1978.
Title.
Council Wage Regulation Order.
Field of operation 
of Wages Council.
2. The provisions set out in the Schedule hereto shall apply to
all employees in respect of whom the Hospitals and Clinics Wages
Council operates.
Amended by:
L.N. 53 of 1978.
SCHEDULE
Interpretation. 
"clinic" means any establishment or organisation falling within
the field of operation of the Hospitals and Clinics Wages Council
other than a hospital:
Provided that where the clinic is situated in a pharmacy, the
employees in that pharmacy shall not be deemed to be employees
of that clinic;
Cap. 252.
"customary holidays" means the days (other than Sundays)
declared for the time being to be public holidays by or under the
National Holidays and other Public Holidays Act;
"hospital" means any institute of medico-surgical treatment, any
maternity home or hydropathic establishment and includes homes
for old aged persons, and sanatoria excluding those charitable
institutions identified as such by the Minister responsible for
labour;
"hours of work" means the time on any day during which the
employees are at the disposal of the employer exclusive of any
intervals allowed for meals and rest;
"part-time employee" means any employee who is not a whole-
time employee;
"period of employment" means the time in any day during which
employees are at the disposal of the employer, inclusive of the
intervals allowed for meals and rest;
"semi-skilled worker" means a worker who would otherwise be a
skilled worker but has not undergone an apprenticeship in the trade;
"shift worker" means an employee who is regularly engaged on
alternate periods of employment in accordance with a prepared
roster;
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HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WAGES 
COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION
"time-and-a-half" and "double time" mean respectively one-and-
a-half and double the actual ordinary time rate payable to the
employee;
"wages" means the remuneration or earnings payable in money
by an employer to an employee;
"week" means a calendar week;
"weekly day of rest" means a period of twenty-four consecutive
hours commencing at the time at which the employee would
normally commence his turn of duty;
"whole-time employee" means an employee who is employed for
more than twenty-four hours in any one week, spread over not less
than four days.
Minimum rates of 
pay.
2. Whole-time employees shall not be paid less than the rates
of pay applicable to their grade as shown hereunder:
CATEGORY A - (Employees who by the nature of their duties
ordinarily come into direct relationship with the patient)
Hospital /Clinic Attendant
Lm903.76  per annum  rising by annual increments of Lm24 up to
a maximum of Lm1,063.76 annually.
Enrolled Nurse
Lm1,016.76  per annum  rising by annual increments of Lm36 up
to a maximum of Lm1,452.64.
This salary applies to those employees who by the nature of their
employment administer medical care to the patient.
Staff Nurse/State Registered Nurse
Lm1,224.76  per annum  rising by annual increments of Lm36 to
Lm1,375.12  per annum  and by annual increments of Lm48 up to a
maximum of Lm1,672.96  per annum :
Provided that those S.R.N.s who besides their normal
duties perform also the work of a midwife they become entitled to
the payment of an increase of Lm48  per annum  besides their
normal salary.
CATEGORY B - (Employees who by the nature of their duties do
not ordinarily come into direct relationship with the patient.)
Hospital Auxiliaries
( a ) Servants and Laundry Employees
Lm17.38 per week rising by annual increments of 50c
per week up to a maximum of Lm19.88 per week.
( b ) Fatiguemen/Fatiguewomen/Labourers/Caretakers/
Gate-keepers
Lm18.63 per week rising by annual increments of 75c
per week up to a maximum of Lm20.88 per week.
The duties of a gate-keeper shall consist only of
controlling access to the hospital grounds.
Semi-Skilled Workers
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WAGES 
COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION ġ S.L.452.54 3
Lm20.63 per week rising by annual increments of 75c per week
up to a maximum of Lm22.88 per week.
Skilled Workers
Lm21.63 per week rising by annual increments of 75c per week
up to a maximum of Lm25.13 per week.
Non-Industrials
(including appointments clerk, clerk/clerk typist) 
Lm19.13 per week rising by annual increments of 75c per week
up to a maximum of Lm23.38 per week.
CATEGORY C
Dental Auxiliaries
During the first year of employment in the profession an
employee under the age of 18 years will receive a minimum wage
of Lm17.38 per week; after the first year of employment in the
profession the wages per week shall not be less than Lm18.88 per
week rising by annual increments of 55c per week up to a
maximum of Lm21.63 per week.
Dental Laboratory Assistants
At 16 years ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Lm13.23 
At 17 years ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Lm14.48.
At 18 years and over Lm18.63 per week rising by annual
increments of 75c per week up to a maximum of Lm20.88.
Dental Mechanics
Where a Dental Mechanic in possession of a qualification
recognised by the Advisory and Executive Board performs work on
the construction of dentures and other connected work, whether or
not he performs also all or any of the following additional duties,
namely the construction of obturators, splints for fractures, chrome
cobalt prosthesis, precision attachment bridge work and porcelain
fused to gold bridge work, he shall receive a salary of Lm1,224.76
per annum  rising by annual increments of Lm36 up to Lm1,375.12
per annum  and thereafter by annual increments of Lm48 up to a
maximum of Lm1,672.96  per annum .
In the case of a Dental Mechanic without the qualifications
referred to in the preceding paragraph the wages should be
Lm21.63 per week rising by annual increments of 75c per week up
to a maximum of Lm24.38 per week.
Minimum rates of 
pay of part-time 
employees.
3. (1) Part-time employees shall not be paid less than the
hourly rates of pay applicable to their grade as shown hereunder:
CATEGORY A
Dental Auxiliaries .............................................................. 66c5
CATEGORY B
Hospital auxiliaries:
( a ) Servants and Laundry Employees .............................. 61c5
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COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION
( b ) Fatiguemen/Fatiguewomen/Labourers/Caretakers/Gate-
Keepers ................................................................................. 64c5
Semi-skilled workers ................................................. 71c5
Skilled workers ......................................................... 81c5
Non-industrials .......................................................... 66c5
Dental Laboratory Assistants
(all ages) .................................................................... 64c5
Other workers - one fortieth part of the minimum weekly
wage, per hour.
Cap. 452.
(2) The above rates shall be increased by one-fortieth of any
weekly wage increase applicable to all whole-time employees in
accordance with the Employment and Industrial Relations Act.
Overtime. 4. Whole-time employees shall be paid overtime at the
following rates - 
(1) Hospitals
( a ) for all time worked outside the ordinary hours of work
on any day of the week, including any weekly day of
rest except a Sunday or a customary holiday
.......................................................... time-and-a-half;
( b ) for all time worked on a Sunday or a customary
holiday ................................................... double-time.
(2) Clinics
( a ) for all time worked outside the ordinary hours of work
on any day except a Sunday or customary holiday
.......................................................... time-and-a-half;
( b ) for all time worked on a Sunday or a customary
holiday ................................................... double-time.
Ordinary hours of 
work.
5. The ordinary hours of work of all whole-time employees in
any establishment or organisation shall not exceed in the aggregate
forty hours of work in any one week, and the minimum wage of
such employees shall be related to a week of not more than forty
hours of work:
Provided that - 
( a ) the ordinary hours of work of whole-time shift workers
employed in any hospital shall be spaced within an
uninterrupted period of employment for any particular
day determined by the employer in agreement with the
employees in accordance with a roster prepared by
them;
( b ) the ordinary hours of work of whole-time employees
other than shift workers employed in any hospital shall
be spaced within an uninterrupted period of
employment of not more than nine hours on any one
day inclusive of the interval allowed for rest; and
( c ) the ordinary hours of work of whole-time employees
employed in any clinic shall be spaced between the
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WAGES 
COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION ġ S.L.452.54 5
times of 8.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. on any one day from
Monday to Friday. On Saturday the hours of work
shall be between the times of 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.
Waiting time.
minimum remuneration applicable to him for all time during which
he is present on the premises of his employer unless he is present
thereon in any of the following circumstances:
( a ) without the employer’s consent, expressed or implied;
( b ) for some purpose not connected with his work and
other than that of waiting for work to be given to him
to perform;
( c ) by reason only of the fact that he is resident thereon;
( d ) during recognised breaks for meals and rest, provided
he is not waiting for work to be given to him to
perform.
Free meals and 
uniforms.
7. All whole-time employees employed in any hospital shall
be entitled to the following free of charge:
( a ) one main meal each working day either at midday or in
the evening;
( b ) tea in the morning and in the afternoon;
(c) uniforms, overalls or any other outer wear like
protective clothing which they are required to wear by
the employing organisation:
Provided that should employees not avail themselves of
their right to any free meals as aforesaid they shall not be entitled
to any pecuniary compensation in substitution therefor.
Minimum daily 
rest.
8. (1) Whole-time employees in any hospital shall be allowed
intervals for meals and rest of not more nor less in the aggregate
than one hour on any one day.
(2) Whole-time employees in any clinic shall be allowed
intervals for meals and rest of not less in the aggregate than one
hour on any one day.
Minimum weekly 
rest.
9. Whole-time employees shall be allowed one day of rest in
every week. 
Vacation leave 
with pay. 
10. Whole-time employees shall be entitled, in every calendar
year, to - 
( a ) all customary holidays with full pay, and
( b ) after three months in employment, vacation leave of
such number of working days with full pay as is
equivalent to the number of working days as that
particular employee should normally attend to work
during a period of four weeks:
Provided that whole-time employees who have been in
employment for less than one year shall be entitled to such part of
the said vacation leave as is in proportion to the number of months
in employment.
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Sick leave.
Cap. 318.
11. Whole-time employees shall in every calendar year be
entitled to thirty days sick leave with full pay less the full amount
of any sickness benefit to which they may be entitled in terms of
the Social Security Act, and to a further thirty days sick leave on
half pay less half the amount of such benefit:
Provided that the employer may require a medical
certificate by his own medical officer to certify incapacity for work
during the period of absence.
Leave for injury or 
contraction of 
disease.
Cap. 318.
12. Whenever whole-time employees sustain any injury or
contract any disease while on duty they shall be entitled to leave on
full injury pay less the full amount of any benefit to which such
employees may be entitled in terms of the Social Security Act, for
the whole duration of such an injury or disease:
Provided, however, that the injury or the disease is -
( a ) sustained or contracted by the employee during the
actual discharge of his duties;
( b ) not sustained or contracted owing to negligence an the
employee’s part;
( c ) specifically attributable to the nature of the
employee’s duties when such duties are specified by
the employer or by someone acting on behalf of the
employer.
Marriage leave.  13. Whole-time employees shall be entitled to three working
days leave with pay on the occasion of their marriage.
Birth leave. 14. Whole-time male employees shall be entitled to one
working day leave with pay on the occasion of the birth of a child
to their wife. 
Bereavement 
leave.
15. A whole-time employee shall be entitled to two working
days leave with pay on the occasion of the death of any one of the
following relatives of the employee: husband, wife, father, mother
(or the person who at the time was acting as father or mother of the
employee) son, daughter, brother or sister.
Leave for jury and 
court service.
16. Whole-time employees shall be entitled to leave with pay
for all working time during which they are required to attend at
court as jurors or summoned to appear as witnesses in police cases.
Retiring age. 17. In cases where retirement of a male employee is expected
at the age of sixty years, such employee shall be given the
opportunity by the employer to retain his employment beyond this
age at least until the age of sixty-one years, provided that the
employee in question shall still be allowed, if he so wishes, to retire
at sixty years.
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WAGES 
COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION ġ S.L.452.54 7
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Schedule, but is intended to show its
applicability).
The provisions of this Schedule apply to all employees in any
private hospital, nursing or convalescent home, dental or other
clinic, including dental mechanics and medical or nursing
institutions or similar establishments.
"Hospital" means any institute of medico-surgical treatment, any
maternity home or hydropathic establishment and includes homes
for old aged persons and sanatoria, excluding those charitable
institutions identified as such by the Minister responsible for
labour.
"Clinics" also includes ante-natal clinics, X-Ray clinics and
medical laboratories and any other establishment where people go
to be medically examined or to receive medical attention but does
not include any institution which is not run as a profitable concern.
This Order shall not apply to employees whose remuneration for
services is regulated by tariff made by or under any other law.
