adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
GWERU City Council employees have taken their employer to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for reducing their salaries and failing to pay salary arrears.
The caretaker commission appointed by the government to run the council affairs following the suspension of all 18 councillors, cut employees salaries by 50 percent to reduce the local authority’s wage bill.
The three-member commission, led by former Masvingo town clerk Tsunga Mhangami, said that the wage bill was too high compared to revenue collected by the local authority.
Gweru’s wage bill stands at about $888,000 per month, which is said to be about 72 percent of its monthly revenue.
The local authority employs about 1,200 workers.
According to a, “notice to parties to attend proceedings” document filed by the employees to the Ministry of Public Service, on December 3, council allegedly unilaterally reduced salaries.
The matter was supposed to be heard on December 17, but was said to have been postponed to a later date next year.
“You’re hereby notified that the matter is between yourself City of Gweru versus City of Gweru employees. You’re hereby notified that the matter is concerning alleged unilateral variation of salaries and non-payment of salary arrears,” reads part of the notification to the parties to attend proceedings.
In opposing the matter, commissioner Mhangami refuted that council had implemented salary cuts.
He said the rationalisation of salaries was effected in the current budget which was supposed to come into effect in January 2015.
Mhangami said the council’s 2015 budget, when it was submitted in November/December 2014, did not comply with a Cabinet directive of October 2014 which directed that expenditure on salaries must not be more than 30 percent of revenue.
He said council only had two choices that are to rationalise the salaries or fire employees on three months’ notice.
“Please be advised that the City of Gweru has a bloated labour force and salary arrears ranging between four to six months, There are two options available, (1) salary rationalisation and (2) giving employees three months notices,” said Mhangami.
Online Reporter