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However, on Thursday the Finance Minister said Government was committed to rewarding its workers. We hope the assurance Minister Biti gave will be fulfilled by Government and that it was not just a politicking statement.
The Finance Minister made the announcement while speaking at a 2013 pre-budget consultative meeting in Bulawayo. This was after participants at the meeting put him under pressure to clarify the position regarding the civil servants’ bonuses. Participants told the meeting that the uncertainty over the civil servants’ bonuses was a cause for concern.
Minister Biti insisted that revenue inflows to Treasury were inadequate but put his neck on the block to calm the nerves of the civil servants by pledging that bonuses would still be paid.
“Payment of bonuses to our civil servants is guaranteed. We will pay them as usual but as we did last year the payment will be staggered,” Mr Biti said.
This is what the Minister should have said in the first place rather than cause anxiety among the Government workers by indicating payment of bonuses was in doubt.
Politicians should desist from making statements that cause alarm and despondency among the populace. In this particular case Minister Biti had demoralised the civil servants by indicating annual bonuses were in doubt. There was no reason at all for making that statement when all he could have said was that Government was committed to paying the annual bonuses although it was facing financial difficulties. That would have been a better way of preparing the Government workers for the unfortunate eventuality of failing to pay the 13th cheque.
Now that Minister Biti has made a commitment that Government will pay its workers their annual bonuses, the civil servants await the fulfillment of this pledge.
Civil servants are poorly paid and it is no secret that they look forward to their annual bonus to be able to bring some cheer to themselves and their families during the merry making festive season.
Unlike their counterparts in the private sector whose annual bonuses are dependent on the performance of the company, civil servants’ bonuses are part of their contract of employment. This is the reason why the Government workers plan with the 13th cheque in mind.
On their part the civil servants should be commended for backtracking on earlier threats to go on strike if their employer failed to meet them to discuss salaries and conditions of service.
Apex Council chairperson Mr David Dzatsunga and his predecessor Mrs Tendai Chikowore on Tuesday said they were giving negotiations a chance after the Minister of Public Service, Mrs Lucia Matibenga recommended that a new Apex Council should be appointed for the negotiations while the civil servants resolve their internal leadership wrangles.
The Dzatsunga-led council welcomed the recommendation and said they would not go on strike as planned earlier.
Online Reporter