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Civil servants have threatened to strike if the Government fails to meet them over salaries for the New Year.
The Government is in possession of the workers’ list of demands they want urgently addressed.
Apex Council chairperson Mrs Tendai Chikowore said the Government team leader Mr Prince Mupazviriho confirmed the National Joint Negotiating Forum expected between January 3 and 6.
The National Joint Negotiating Forum brings together civil service unions under the banner of the Apex Council and Government.
“Let us just wait because it is only a week and if Government does not make any indication that they are willing to negotiate, that is when we will determine the next course of action,” Mrs Chikowore said.
“Since the presentation of the 2012 National Budget, Government has not said anything about civil servants’ salaries.
“We are saying they should offer us something so that we can start to negotiate and see if we can reach a compromise.”
Mrs Chikowore said yesterday’s Apex Council meeting resolved that the Government should look at the salary grading system which is in “shambles”.
The demand is part of a position paper submitted to Government by the Apex Council last week.
Government workers also demanded the reintroduction of the rural allowance, pegged at 20 percent of one’s salary.
“We demand that the principle of cascading salaries and allowances be maintained in recognition of academic and professional skills of workers,” read part of the civil servants’ position paper.
“From the 1st of January 2012, we want the least-paid Government worker to be given US$538.”
Mrs Chikowore said it was not proper that most Government workers were lumped in one grade.
“Of course, there are grades, but we are talking about debunching,” she said.
“A lot of people are bunched in more or less the same grades. The difference between the salary scales is not significant. In most cases you find that the difference is just US$2.”
Mrs Chikowore said they will convene another Apex Council meeting on January 4 to map the way forward.
Civil servants also want the civil service pension scheme revitalised.
They also want those in lower grades to get transport and housing allowances.
Deputy Minister of Public Service Andrew Langa admitted that the civil servants’ salary grading system was in shambles. He said the Government will seriously consider working on the system to make it relevant.
“We have a programme where we want to unbundle civil servants so that we pay them according to their qualifications and experience,” Deputy Minister Langa said.
“Their concern in that regard is very genuine.”
Deputy Minister Langa said the Government was prepared to meet the civil servants to discuss their concerns.
The Apex Council gave the Government an ultimatum on December 16 to meet their demands or they would go on strike.
Civil servants have been at loggerheads with the Government over salaries since the introduction of the multi-currency system in 2009.
The Government has always argued that it does not generate enough money to warrant a salary increment for its workers.
The last salary increment was in July this year when the civil servants got an average of US$100 increase each.
The increment left the lowest paid Government worker earning US$253 from US$128.
The civil servants wanted more, arguing that the new salaries were below the poverty datum line.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti did not provide for a salary increase for the Government workers in the 2012 national budget.
Minister Biti budgeted US$600 million in the 2012 national budget which he said would come from diamond sales.
Online Reporter