USD salary rise, bonus for civil servants . . .Workers welcome move

Theseus Shambare

TREASURY has set aside substantial funds to cater for a revised remuneration package for its workers, including effecting an increase in their US dollar salary component, to mitigate the impact of the recent devaluation of Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) against the US dollar.

The new package, which will prioritise salary adjustments for lower-income Government employees, will be presented to workers’ representatives when the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) — the platform that facilitates conditions of service consultations between the Government and public sector worker representatives — convenes soon. In addition to the salary adjustment, the Government has committed to paying workers their annual bonuses this year, with consultations on the timing of payment of the 13th cheque nearing completion.

Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Minister of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare July Moyo confirmed that Treasury had already set aside an allocation of US dollars for the salary adjustments.

“The Government has allocated a significant amount in US dollars to ensure that salary adjustments benefit all civil servants,” said Minister Moyo. “However, under the President’s directive, we have prioritised the upliftment of lower-income employees to bridge the wage gap.”

This directive, he said, has been conveyed to negotiators from both the Government and civil service unions.

Minister Moyo expressed confidence that the proposed salary adjustments, once finalised, will be acceptable to both workers and the Government. He underscored the urgent need to address the financial challenges faced by lower-income civil servants.

“While we understand that top-level officials can manage with their current salaries, it is imperative that we provide adequate support to those at the bottom of the ladder.

“Once they present their recommendations, we are confident that the Government will accept their proposals, especially those that address the needs of our lower-income civil servants,” he added.

On bonus, Minister Moyo said the payment modalities will be announced soon.

“On the bonus, we will make an announcement after consulting with Treasury, but the bonus will certainly come,” he said.

Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander said workers welcomed the Government’s decision to pay this year’s bonus.

“You may be aware that in April, our agreement with the Government was that salaries are indexed to the US dollar exchange rate although the other part is paid in ZiG,” she said.

“This implies that when ZiG is devalued, the ZiG component will be raised in congruence with the prevailing exchange rate, maintaining the same value. It is only that the devaluation happened after workers had received their salaries and people were short-changed.

“However, we consented with the Government to do something to cover that and deliberations are still ongoing after we tabled our issue.

“For bonus payments, we want the Government to do the same as last year when 50 percent of the bonus was paid in November, with the remainder being paid in December.”