The Zimbabwean Government is preparing a new salary offer to be made to its restive and powerful Public Service.
The new offer is to be designed to break the deadlock in negotiations after workers rejected a 25 per cent salary increase and periodic increment offer as “woefully inadequate”.
Some workers, such as teachers, responded by unilaterally reducing the number of days they were reporting for duty by calling in sick, prompting the Government to introduce a no-work-no-pay policy.
Despite the deadlock, the Government has implemented its original offer, with the lowest paid worker being paid US$205 ($A265) equivalent, while another 45 per cent review coming into effect at the end of June.
Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Paul Mavima said he was hopeful the Government and employees would come to an agreement on a new offer.
“For now, our technical people are compiling a report on the issue; once it is done we will look at it as a Ministry then we go back to the negotiating table with Government workers,” Professor Mavima said.
“This will be the third session of these negotiations therefore, we are hopeful that this time around we will reach an agreement,” he said.
Public Servants have been pushing for the restoration of their 2018 salaries when mid-range Public Servants were paid around US$500 ($A646).
Since 2019 they have embarked on frequent protests, prompting the Government to introduce a cocktail of measures in an effort to cushion them from rampant inflation.
The Government has introduced buses to reduce transport costs; cost of living adjustments; housing programs to improve the standard of accommodation, and other initiatives that have so far failed to impress the workers.
Harare, 25 May 2021
