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This was after the National Joint Negotiating Committee meeting yielded no results on the issue.
Apex Council submitted proposals of workers’ demands although there was reportedly no tangible response from Government as its representatives reportedly came to the meeting “empty handed”.
Apex represents all civil servants’ organisations in the country namely, Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association, Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe and Public Service Association.
NJNC comprises Apex and Government representatives.
After the two-hour meeting, representatives of the civil servants’ organisation said they were not happy that the Government was not ready to deliberate on the issue of salaries.
In a telephone interview, Apex Council president Mrs Tendai Chikowore said they gave Government two weeks to put its house in order on the issue of salaries.
She said civil servants wanted their July salaries adjusted.
“We had a meeting with Government negotiators today but there were no tangible results in terms of our demands. As far as the demands are concerned, the Government said it was not yet ready as it is yet to consult and deliberate on budgetary logistics to see how much could be awarded to civil servants,” said Mrs Chikowore.
“What we are happy about is the fact that we managed to make submissions of our proposal. However, I cannot give more details on the submissions we made but there is the issue of the adjustment of basic salary and transport allowances and also re-introduction of the rural allowance.”
However, the workers are reportedly demanding an all-inclusive salary of $564 for the least paid worker and 15 percent of the basic salary as rural allowance. The least paid Government worker is getting $296.
Mrs Chikowore said after yesterday’s meeting, they would wait for the Government’s response on the way forward.
“People want an increase this month and we expect the Government to quickly respond within two weeks. We will see what they would offer as it is now up to the Government to conform to our demands,” she said.
Asked what decision Apex would take in the event the Government failed to effect a salary increase, the Apex boss said it would be up to the members to decide.
The workers’ representatives said although they were not happy with the Government position so far, they hoped that something would be done as a matter of urgency.
Government representative in the NJNC, Mr Prince Mupazviriho, who is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, could not comment on the issue referring questions to the Minister of Public Service, Lucia Matibenga.
“I do not comment on those issues. Talk to the Minister of Public Service,” he said.
Minister Matibenga was not reachable on her mobile phone.
The chief executive officer of Zimta Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said they emphasised the urgency of the matter to the Government.
“Yesterday we went to the meeting to present our demands. Our demand has always been that salaries should be informed by the PDL. This was the first meeting since January and we appreciate that they received our proposal. What we expect now is for the Government to come back to us on time,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu urged members to be patient as the association was still committed to the negotiations.
The president of the Public Service Association, Mrs Cecilia Alexander, said the meeting did not go well.
“The meeting did not go well for us as workers. The Government had no intention to discuss our issues yet we wanted to continue from where we left in January. The Government seemed not prepared and we only ended up re-submitting our demands and asked them to go and consult since they said they were not ready. The discussions were in good faith and our problem is that Government negotiators had nothing tangible to offer,” Mrs Alexander said.
PTUZ secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said whatever resolution the Government would take should be done before July pay days.
“We hope the Government will respond before July pay days. We are happy that we submitted our demands but we still have to wait for a response. As negotiators, we had an undertaking not to publicise the submissions as that usually creates interest in shops and service providers who would raise prices,” said Mr Majongwe.
Online Reporter