New pay strategies needed: Experts

Sunday Mail Reporter
LABOUR experts have called on Government and civil servants to find a lasting solution to salary disputes, saying protracted disagreements over remuneration are detrimental to service delivery.
They said negotiations between Government and its employees should come up with concrete strategies on civil service salary adjustments.
In an interview last Friday, Stallone Consultancy managing director Mr Zack Murerwa said the parties should always seek dialogue.
“The last thing the economy needs at the moment is a strike. Mass action will grossly affect key sectors such as health and education,” he said.
“The strike may also encroach into crucial Government programmes like the constitution-making process.
“A strike will cost us much time and money and the biggest problem will be regaining what we will have lost.”
Last week, reports said civil servants had threatened job action after Government increased salaries by nominal margins which saw the lowest paid getting $25 on top of last year’s basic salary of about $165.
Civil servant representatives gave their employer a seven-day ultimatum to improve the figures at negotiations held in Harare on Thursday.
Mr Murerwa said the two parties should adopt collective bargaining, an extensive negotiating process in which the employer is required by law to negotiate with the union over various terms and conditions of employment. Such terms may range from wage and benefit issues to work rules that govern how workers are to perform certain tasks.
Under this process, unions and the employer are required by law to negotiate in “good faith” and are subject to penalties if they fail to do so.
The labour expert said: “It is sad that there is bickering between Government and its workers over wages almost every other month,” he said.
“Long-term solutions should centre on amending labour laws. This is the trend across the world.
“It is a very important factor because it will allow for the harmonisation of labour laws so that civil servants’ issues are incorporated into the Labour Act as opposed to the Public Service Act.
“Government should also be more vigorous in fulfiling its pledge to give non-monetary incentives to civil servants.”
Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe director Dr Godfrey Kanyeze urged authorities to expedite the conclusion of the civil service staff audit.
“The time to weed out ghost workers is long overdue because it will help reduce the wage bill,” he said.
“It’s a misdeed that Government has no money but it is paying salaries to people who do not deserve to be paid and is losing millions of dollars annually.
“The audit should also be used to ensure the salaries for civil servants are scientifically based.
“Imagine you have a situation where a worker with 10 years’ experience and good qualifications is paid the same salary as someone who is fresh out of college.
“Civil servants’ salaries should be based on a scientific system whereby workers can be rewarded according to their rank, experience and qualifications.”
Out of the total National Budget of US$2,7 billion,  Finance Minister Mr Tendai Biti set aside $1,4 billion to cater for employment costs, which include wages, pensions, medical aid and social service contributions.
Civil servants expected their salaries to double, but later became restless after authorities took long to unveil the new salary structure.
Apex Council chairperson Mrs Tendai Chikowore said mass action was the “last option”.
“We gave Government seven days to come back to us with a better offer because we were very disappointed with what they offered,” she said.
“However, as civil servant representatives, we have not taken a decision to go on strike. We will only consider what action to take after we meet Government and consider their next offer.
“We are still keen to negotiate and it is not our intention to embark on mass action. Our position is that the minimum salary of $502 we are asking for is only a starting point as we are willing to negotiate from there.”