TINASHE MAKICHI
Government has reached an agreement with teachers that will see the lowest paid getting a 139% salary increase to ZWL$2,500 as it moves to avert a crippling strike.
The highest paid will now earn ZWL$4,600 up from ZWL$1,800. The improved awards take effect from January 1, 2020 while the cushioning allowance will not form part of the 2020 award as it was a December 2019 cushion paid belatedly, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) said in a circular yesterday.
“Under the circumstances, negotiators settled for the above figures, which marks the end of this phase of negotiations. We appeal to our members to do everything possible to deliver the public services required of them,” said Zimta secretary general Tapson Sibanda.
“We further encourage authorities to accommodate our members who were unable to deliver lessons due to their incapacitated state to assist them resume duty without sanctions.”
He said Zimta would continue to monitor the economic situation and will re-activate negotiations for outstanding issues.
The conclusion of the meeting was a continuation of the process that started on January 14, carried forward to January 24 and concluded yesterday.
“The meeting marks the conclusion of the first installment of 2020 negotiations,” said Sibanda.
During the beginning of the year, teachers heeded the Zimta call to boycott lessons due to the continued deterioration of the economy exacerbated by meagre salaries.
Civil servants recently rejected a 97% salary increment offered by the government as they insisted on getting paid salaries equivalent to what they used to get during the multicurrency regime.
Teachers at most schools across the country have been staying at home while some have had to cut the number of days of attending lessons.
Analysts say the weakening of the local currency should see employers, government and the private sector continuously review salaries to cushion employees.
