Teachers get bonuses today

. . . the rest to get by month-end

. . . move cools tempers in Education

Felex Share Herald Reporter
Teachers will start receiving their bonuses today while the rest of the civil servants will have theirs by this month-end, acting Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cde Walter Mzembi said yesterday.

He said the Government was committed to “honouring its obligations with regards to meeting the entitlements of all public servants.

“In this regard and consistent with the staggering schedule previously announced, the bonuses for the education sector are currently being transferred to the various banks and should start reflecting in individual bank accounts by Tuesday and Wednesday the 6th and 7th of January 2015.

“For the rest of the civil servants, Government remains committed to ensuring that all bonuses are paid within January 2015, on a date to be advised.”

This effectively cools tempers within the Education body as teachers had threatened to go on strike if they did not receive their bonuses before schools open.

Teachers constitute the bulk of civil servants.

Their peers in Government are yet to receive their 13th cheque, an issue Government has attributed to cash flow challenges.

The liquidity crunch the economy continues to face has compromised efforts to pay bonuses on time.

In the private sector, the bulk of employees did not receive bonuses as firms were focusing on survival and the payment of regular salaries.

In Government, only members of uniformed forces received their bonuses in November last year, traditionally the month during which most firms pay bonuses.

Teachers had threatened to go on strike when schools open next week, accusing Government of failing to come up with an exact date when their bonuses would be paid.

They also called on Government to engage them directly through the official platform, the National Joint Negotiating Council, instead of depending on the media for developments.

Minister Mzembi said the NJNC had collapsed and there were no negotiating teams on the part of Government and the workers.

Government team leader Mr Maxwell Ranga was offered an ambassadorial role while NJNC chairperson Dr Nelson Sambureni has resigned.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu yesterday said his members were worried by the absence of a platform for dialogue.

“The system has collapsed and there is no negotiating taking place through the National Joint Negotiating Council, which in our view is dangerous as people will always speculate. The situation could be better if we were dialogueing but they are mum.”

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said: “We bear with Government but the greatest challenge is lack of dialogue.

“When there is agitation, the best way to douse those flames is engage in dialogue, in good faith. The earlier they communicate the position to us the better because we have budgets to make and schools are opening we have got obligations.”

College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr David Dzatsunga added: “This new culture where Government unilaterally makes decisions is against good labour practices. An employer should always consult workers before going public.”

In response, Minister Mzembi said there was need to resuscitate the negotiating forum.

“We understand their concerns and it will be for the benefit of both sides if the NJNC is revived. We wanted to communicate with them but in the absence of the platform it becomes difficult. This is an issue which will be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Minister Mzembi said pupils under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) should not be chased away from school next week.

He said while Government owed schools fees for 2014, no child should fail to access basic education because of their social background.