adminThe meeting came after Prime Minister Tsvangirai said on Thursday that a salary increment will only be considered if proceeds from diamond sales increase.
The Government workers are demanding a minimum salary in tandem with the Poverty Datum Line, which is pegged at $540.
Apex Council chairperson Ms Tendai Chikowore, the Public Service Association and the Zimbabwe Teachers Union confirmed meeting Government, but said they were disappointed that the employer came on the negotiating table empty-handed.
The meeting was at the request of the civil servants’ representatives.
“I can confirm that we met Government today,” said Ms Chikowore.
“The budget was presented and Government should tell us what they are offering us in terms of salaries.
“Unfortunately, Government came without a position paper and wanted us to respond to the budget, yet the budget is not ours. They should articulate the budget to us so that we know what was allocated to us.”
Ms Chikowore said the Government should address the plight of civil servants.
“As workers we handed over our position paper to Government. It is not fair for them to discuss our position without presenting theirs as the employer,” she said.
“We have impressed upon them that these negotiations should be concluded before the end of December.”
Ms Chikowore said they expected to meet Government again on Monday next week.
“It was clear that they (Government negotiating team) had not been given the mandate by Treasury giving them the parameters within which to negotiate,” she said.
Ms Chikowore reacted angrily to remarks by PM Tsvangirai in Parliament on Thursday that an increase in civil servants’ salaries was dependent on the sale of diamonds.
She said other Government arms were getting money even when the diamonds were not bringing much.
“If there is no money why are they giving Ministers and Members of Parliament $15 000 each?” said Ms Chikowore.
“Where is the money coming from? It does not make sense to say we are waiting for money from diamond sales.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary general Mr Richard Gundani said they were disappointed by the lack of urgency on Government’s side.
“We got very disappointed. Our expectations were not met when we got into the meeting,” he said.
“We expected to exchange papers, but it appears the Government side was not ready with a specific paper that we were looking forward to in terms of adjusting teachers’ salaries.
“We impressed upon them that this process (negotiations) must be concluded by end of this month, so that there is no anxiety as we get to January.”
The PSA president Ms Alexander Cecilia Kowa said:
“We are going to stick to our position paper as workers. The least paid Government employee’s salary must be in tandem with the PDL.”
Public Service Deputy Minister Andrew Langa confirmed the meeting between the civil servants and Government but would not give details.
“I can only give you details about the meeting on Monday as I am away in Bulawayo,” he said.
“As Government we are concerned about civil servants’ remuneration and we will make adjustments as soon as resources are made available.”
Civil servants last got a pay rise in July this year that saw the least paid worker getting $253 from $128.
This followed intervention by President Mugabe after Finance Minister Tendai Biti had insisted that Government had no money to increase the salaries.
Online Reporter