Nevanji Nehoreka
Government has hinted on a possible additional increase on the amount of money offered to civil servants.
The news is set to be a welcome progression in the ongoing salary discussions between Government and its employees.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima told Senate last that Thursday that Government the employer was considering another slight adjustment to the tabled staggered 70 percent wage offer to civil servants.
The salaries would be in local currency, as government cannot match United States dollar-indexed salaries demanded by civil servants.
“With regard to salaries, government is working out to ensure that workers are motivated properly, but the workers should also appreciate efforts that are being made by government. According to our revenue at the moment, it is not possible for us to go beyond what we have already offered,” Minister Mavima said.
Minister Mavima however said the review will be marginal.
“We may actually adjust or increase, but not with a big percentage because we stand guided by the Finance ministry. I know that there is a problem that some teachers report for duty, but do not teach and children are being denied the education they deserve. The government team went back to the negotiating table so that our offer may be reconsidered, hence Treasury and Public Service Commission technical people are meeting to see how they can increase the offer to the civil servants.
We are saying that since government has opened the negotiation forum, may civil servants, especially teachers go back to work while negotiations go on,” Prof Mavima said.
Civil servants, especially teachers, have been demanding between US$520 and US$550 or the equivalent in the local currency, a demand not accepted by government.
In March, government agreed to adjust its workers’ salaries, offering a 70 percent staggered adjustment, which saw civil servants this month getting 25 percent of the offer.
Government which has instituted a ‘no work, no pay’ policy has insisted it not intervene in negotiations between employees and employers.
This saw worker representatives walk out of negotiations in Harare last Thursday.
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