adminIt is for this reason that even workers in the private sector look up to Government when it comes to improving their remuneration. The workers in the private sector in fact use civil servants’ salaries to bargain for their own salaries. When Government introduced multi-currency in 2009, civil servants went for several months being paid an allowance as Government did not have enough money to pay salaries. Many civil servants left employment to seek greener pastures in neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, while others went overseas to countries such as Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the US.
The civil servants who remained behind have therefore been very patient given the level of salaries they were paid which ranged from $150 to $200 regardless of one’s position in Government.
The civil servants, through their union representatives, have been engaging the Government demanding to be paid living wages. They have said they want the lowest paid worker to be paid a salary which is at least above the Poverty Datum Line which is pegged at more than $500. Government has repeatedly promised to review civil servants’ salaries once the economy improves. The Minister of Finance Tendai Biti at one time said once the civil servants’ audit is complete and alleged ghost workers removed, Government would review the civil servants’ salaries. Principals to the inclusive Government, President Mugabe, Prime Minister Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara were at one time forced to direct Minister Biti to increase civil servants’ salaries. The civil servants have since 2009 sought the intervention of President Mugabe after getting no joy from Government Ministers during collective bargaining negotiations and the major stumbling block has been Minister Biti whose over rehearsed song, “there is no money”, is nauseating.
Only last month, the Apex Council, which brings together the different civil servants’ unions, wrote to President Mugabe imploring him to intervene and help improve their salaries and working conditions.
The Apex Council argues that the issue of Government workers’ salaries they have been pushing for a long time now needs the highest authority to avoid a potential impasse. Last year the workers were forced to approach President Mugabe after exhausting all negotiating channels and it was only then that they finally got a salary increase though it was well below what they were demanding.
The workers, who are awaiting President Mugabe’s response to the request they made last month, should have been taken by surprise to learn that Minister Biti is contemplating freezing their salaries until the economy improves.
Minister Biti reportedly told a special Cabinet meeting last week that civil servants’ salaries and recruitments will be frozen until the economy improves. The civil servants have warned of unspecified action if Minister Biti goes ahead to freeze their salaries without engaging them.
What Minister Biti should appreciate is that the issue of workers’ salaries is very sensitive and should therefore stop politicking. It is Government which has repeatedly pledged to improve the civil servants’ salaries once the economy improves so to then make an about turn and talk of freezing salaries is taking the workers who have been patient for this long for granted.
Why is Biti jumping the gun instead of waiting for President Mugabe’s response to the civil servants’ request? The civil servants, as we have already stated, have been patient for too long while the same ministers parroting that there is no money are being bought luxury cars now and again.
The same ministers who are claiming that the Government is broke are globe-trotting with high-powered delegations spending thousands of dollars. It is time Minister Biti is whipped into line so that he can distinguish between being asked to administer the Government purse and owning it. Minister Biti should not be allowed to do as he pleases with people’s resources.
Online Reporter