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Nqobile Tshili-Bulawayo Bureau
Civil servants started getting their backdated pay yesterday as Government commits to ensuring a living wage for its workforce and fulfilled its pledge to review salaries upwards.
Public sector workers have also been assured of their usual annual bonus that will be paid next month and in December.
Following a National Joint Negotiating Council meeting with employees on Monday, the Government resolved to increase the salaries of workers up to deputy director level.
Yesterday, members of the uniformed forces started receiving their reviewed salaries, which have also been aligned to the latest exchange rate movement for the local currency component. The Government had pledged to adjust the salaries of the civil servants following last month’s exchange rate shift from US$1:ZiG14 to US$1:ZiG25.
In Harare and Bulawayo yesterday, banks and major supermarkets were a hive of activity as civil servants shopped after receiving their backpay.
Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) president, Mrs Cecelia Alexander, confirmed the increase and said the lowest civil servant will now receive the equivalent of US$364.
“Following a series of meetings by the NJNC, the two parties later met on October 14, 2024 at Kaguvi Building, Harare, and agreed to the following:
“Review of the salary by US$40 payable in local currency at the prevailing official exchange rate, across the board for the grades of deputy director and below with effect from September 1, 2024,” she said in a statement.
“This will result in the lowest Grade B1 getting a total package of US$364,45 from US$324,45.”
Mrs Alexander said the Government further reviewed bus fares effective from October 1.
She said the Government has also committed to paying the 2024 annual bonus in November and December.
“The payment modalities will be issued in due course,” she said.
Mrs Alexander said the Government was expected to share the employees’ job evaluation exercise by Monday next week. This was in fulfilment of the promise that the Government made to workers last week.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo recently said that the Government was set to review salaries for civil servants. “The Government has allocated a significant amount in US dollars to ensure that salary adjustments benefit all civil servants.
“However, under the President’s directive, we have prioritised the upliftment of lower-income employees to bridge the wage gap,” said Minister Moyo.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu said while teachers have noted the salary adjustment, more needs to be done to meet their expectations.
“The plea from the workers is that the salary adjustment should have been accompanied by an increase in the US dollar component of the salary as the local currency has not fully stabilised in the market.
“The adjustment comes at a time when salaries in the local currency had fallen by at least 42 percent in the official market and 67 percent in the informal sector.
“So, generally, the adjustment remains low and does not bring much excitement to workers,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Online Reporter