02 March 2022
Lindie Dube
Secretary to Service Commissions, Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe, has announced the signing of an agreement between government and worker representatives for improved conditions for all civil servants.
This agreement comes after the government made further concessions to improve the welfare of its workers.
Since Public Service Commission’s mission is to ensure the delivery of responsive services and promote economic growth and development by enhancing the policy, institutional and operational capacity of the public service and it’s relevant partners, it is with measure that the employer negotiated and signed the salary increases.
“A 20% review on gross emoluments ( basic salary+ transport allowance + housing allowance + representation allowance where applicable) backdated to 1January 2022 and to be paid February 2022 pay date.
Continuation of payment of USD $75 Covid-19 allowance for civil servants payable in hard currency with effect from 1 January 2022.
Introduction of USD $100 salary to be paid in hard currency across the board with effect from 1 March 2022. This brings the total USD monthly pay component to $175, with effect from 1 March 2022.
Introduction of a housing loan guarantee scheme for home ownership for all civil servants.
Payment of School fees for every teaching family for up to three biological children at a maximum of ZWL $20 000 per child per term. Modalities of implementation will be worked out by the relevant authorities.”
There has been a protracted war between Civil servants and the government.
This agreement comes after Teachers failed to return to class citing incapacitation because of the near peanuts of remuneration they have been receiving these past years.
When teachers failed to report for duty the relevant minister chose to suspend the whole lot and the employer, the Public Service Commission( PSC), instead of sitting on a round table and address teachers grievances chose to give an ultimatum to incapacitated teachers.
Meanwhile, Public Service Commissions (PSC) set an ultimatum to striking teachers stating that all teachers, deputy heads and heads of schools who did not report for duty by Tuesday 22 February 2022 will be deemed to have resigned from the service.
The health sector has also over the past few years been hit by challenges including the exodus of nurses, doctors, pharmacists among others to other countries because of poor government salary.
As at November 2021 a total of 2 246 health care professionals had left the service.
Many have been recruited by agencies from developed countries.
While the authorities in government fought with teachers, someone forgot that the battle was affecting scholars whose learning time has been ravaged by the corona virus pandemic.
It is a war that can be avoided if the government realizes the truth about the value of local currency against basic food prices.
Unfortunately the minister responsible with the country’s cash flow does not recognise the suffering of civil servants as well as their children since his family is based overseas.
Zim GBC News