LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
THE salary negotiations between government and its workers have been moved to next week after the parties failed to agree on the payment of salaries in United States dollar.
The meeting next week comes as the Progressive Teachers Union Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has dismissed the outcomes of recent meetings as “nonsense” adding that teachers will not resume classes until the salary issue has been resolved.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima told Business Times that the meeting that will be held next week is expected to yield results.
“After two rounds of negotiations between government representatives and the civil service apex council, results were not satisfactory but we expect to break the deadlock on the third and final round of nationwide consultations and reach the consensus,” Mavima said.
“For now the input that had been discussed has already been brought before the Cabinet and the final decisions will be made after final input has been agreed to.”
Civil servants are advocating the return to October 2018 salary which stood at around US$475 per month and the government say it has no capacity to pay salaries of that magnitude due to fiscal constraints.
In June, government introduced a US$75 Covid-19 allowance for the civil service.
The allowance was supposed to run for three months but has been extended to year end.
But civil servants say the allowance was paid in local currency at the prevailing rate which has riled the constituency.
The Apex Council, which represents 15 trade unions and an umbrella body for all government employees, argued that teachers would resume work after their problems are resolved.
Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander said the standoff would end if the government return salaries to October 2018 levels.
Workers have frequently gone on strike since 2018 as the local currency continues to devalue against major currencies.
PTUZ secretary general Raymond Majongwe accused the Apex Council of going into bed with the government.
“We only need them to pay US$500 monthly salary and improve our working standards and all the standoffs will come to an abrupt end,” Majongwe said.
The Apex Council has in the past said it negotiating in good faith for the benefit of the civil servants.
Experts say salary negotiations have to be urgently concluded to allow teachers to resume work and end the boycott since the commencement of Zimbabwe School Examinations Council examination classes began classes on September 28.
