Government to deal with errant teachers

by | Apr 28, 2021 | Local News | 0 comments

Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa

Government reiterated that it will strictly apply the no-work no-pay labour principle to all cases of teacher absenteeism.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has compiled and submitted a list of teachers who did not conduct lessons in March to the Public Service Commission.

The list for errant teachers for April is also being collected as Government moves in to deal with teacher truancy by enforcing the standard labour practice for job action.

In the past, Government had continued to pay civil servants even when they are not reporting for work.
Government, which has been engaged in a series of tripartite negotiations with labour unions and civil servants representatives including Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe and other teacher labour organisations urged teachers to carry out their duties normally.

While making the call, Government made it clear that it would be implementing the standard global procedure of no work no pay.

During a post Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa said; “Government reiterates that it will strictly apply the no-work no-pay labour principle to all cases of teacher absenteeism, and the responsible Ministry has compiled and submitted a list of teachers that did not conduct lessons in march to the Public Service Commission. The April list is being compiled.”

Government has continued to outline its fiscal constraints to civil servants during negotiations, maintaining it will only be able to pay first up to a certain ceiling as guided by Treasury and only in local currency.

Teacher unions had demanded a salary hike of between USD520 to USD550 or the local equivalence, a demand which Government says is unsustainable.