A Zambian payslip has a line that matters more than the others: basic pay.
Why basic pay is the key figure
Statutory gratuity under section 73(1) is not less than 25% of basic pay earned during the contract period.
Not gross. Not total package. Basic pay.
A package structured with a modest basic and large allowances produces a smaller gratuity, even where the monthly total looks identical to a better-structured offer.
At offer stage, ask what the basic is, separately from allowances.
What should appear
Basic pay, stated separately
Allowances, itemised
NAPSA contribution
NHIMA contribution
PAYE
What to check monthly
That basic pay matches your contract
That NAPSA and NHIMA deductions appear
That PAYE is correctly applied
That no deduction appears that you did not authorise
Verify NAPSA separately
The deduction on your payslip does not prove the employer remitted it to NAPSA. Check your record directly.
Gaps reduce your eventual benefit and are easier to fix while you are still employed.
Keep every payslip
Because gratuity is calculated on basic pay earned during the contract, your payslips across the whole contract period are the evidence of that figure.
If you are on a three-year contract, you will want thirty-six payslips when it ends. Save them as you go.
Leave pay and the divisor
When leave is paid out, check the calculation: salary × leave days ÷ 26. A calculation using 30 produces a lower figure.
If something is wrong
Raise it in writing with your employer first. The Labour Officer for your district handles complaints under the Employment Code.
Frequently asked questions
Why is basic pay the most important line?
Because statutory gratuity is not less than 25% of basic pay earned during the contract period — not gross, not total package.
What deductions should appear on my payslip?
NAPSA and NHIMA contributions and PAYE, alongside your basic pay and itemised allowances.
Should I keep all my payslips?
Yes. Gratuity is calculated on basic pay earned across the whole contract, so on a three-year contract you will want all thirty-six payslips when it ends.
How do I verify my NAPSA contributions?
Check your record directly with NAPSA. The deduction on your payslip does not prove the employer remitted it.
How should leave pay be calculated?
Salary multiplied by leave days, divided by 26. A calculation using 30 produces a lower figure.