Hugiene Marira
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) intends to lay off 800 workers as part of a broad-based restructuring exercise aimed at ensuring the parastatal, which has over the years struggled to break even, operates profitably.

The grain procurer has an estimated 2 100 workers on its payroll.
GMB board chairman Mr Charles Chikaura said this figure was unsustainable.

“In order to achieve strategic alignment, GMB intends to reduce staffing levels to 1 300 permanent employees through a combination of organisational restructuring and a retrenchment exercise.
“The staff reduction will result in a small ratio being reduced and maintained at a sustainable level of 30 percent from the previous average of 60 percent.

This will release the much-needed resources to more productive uses,” he said.
Mr Chikaura hinted that the restructuring exercise will see the creation of a Strategic Grain Reserve business unit.
Meanwhile, the GMB has agreed to award its workers an 18 percent salary increment after protracted negotiations.

The increment, which will be backdated to last month, will see the lowest paid worker getting US$273,76, up from US$230, while workers in the C3 grade will take home US$458,18.
The agreement also states that 30 percent of the basic salary will cover housing, education and transport allowances.
A top-up of US$50 will be added as a transport allowance for grade A21 to C3 employees.