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‘No need to lay-off workers’

02 Aug, 2015 - 00:08 0 Views
‘No need to lay-off workers’ Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira

The Sunday Mail

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira

Chief Reporter

Government has several options to tackle its high salary bill rather than retrenching civil servants and contradicting its job-creation policy.

Harare-based economist Mr Witness Chinyama told The Sunday Mail that there was no need for consternation as wage bill cuts are always long-term.

“Inasmuch as it is necessary to cut the wage bill, the process cannot be done overnight. It is a long-term initiative. One way of doing it is, for example, providing those workers who leave work (by resigning or for other reasons) are not replaced.”

Another economist Mr Brains Muchemwa added: “We should understand that the issue is about productivity. Laying off workers is in direct contradiction to Zim-Asset.

“However, the issue is about productivity, so if a worker is not producing results, he or she might as well be laid off.”

Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said the wage bill cut should incorporate all civil service structures.

“When cutting the wage bill, they should look at the entire size of Government; that is the ministers, the high-ranking officials and the expenditure they gobble in Government.

“The idea of firing a low-ranking worker such as a teacher, for example, in order to cut the wage bill does not read well. They should also look at sectors in Government that are unnecessarily duplicating.”

College Lecturers’ Association president Mr David Dzatsunga said the matter should be discussed by the National Joint Negotiating Council.

“There are other issues besides civil servants’ salaries, and these are contributing to the huge wage bill. So, the issues should be brought before the negotiating council for discussion.”

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