Government to adjust civil servants’ forex, local currency salary components

Sikhumbuzo Moyo – [email protected]
GOVERNMENT yesterday announced that it will immediately adjust civil servants’ forex and local currency salary components as the Second Republic continues to walk the talk in terms of improving the working conditions of its workers.
While the latest figures could not be obtained last night, prior to the latest development, the lowest-paid civil servant was pocketing US$250 monthly.
This excludes local currency portions of their packages.
Government employees’ representatives said the new figures would bring some relief to the workers although the figures are still less than what they have been proposing.
The Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions has been advocating for a minimum of US$840 per month, a figure that went up from the initial bargaining amount of US$540.
In her post-Cabinet report yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said despite the immediate salary change as proposed by the Government, negotiations, as guided by the spirit of continued improvement of the welfare of civil servants, will continue.
“Cabinet received a report on the status of negotiations held by the National Joint Negotiating Council on 7 July 2023 where it was agreed that the current offer of salary adjustments as proposed by Government be effected immediately. The parties further agreed that consultations and negotiations will continue guided by the spirit of continued improvement of the welfare of the Civil Service,” she said.
“The decision by the parties takes cognisance of the need to afford the measures being implemented by the fiscal authorities to take effect.”
Last week, Government and workers’ representatives convened a National Joint Negotiating Council meeting to discuss civil servants’ conditions of service with the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Professor Paul Mavima reiterating that Government remained committed to improving the welfare of its employees and will constantly be engaging with the employees’ representatives, all designed to better the lives of its employees.
Early last month, representatives of the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Union met President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare over a number of issues affecting the civil servants and President Mnangagwa made a commitment to look into all the issues raised.

Professor Paul Mavima
In his May Day speech, President Mnangagwa hailed workers for engaging in dialogue, instead of strikes, to find solutions to problems they faced at workplaces.
He said Government was aware of the current imported inflationary environment which was eroding buying power of the workers and said this was being attended to adding that it was the workers that are building the country, brick by brick, stone upon stone, towards the attainment of the National Vision of a prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle- income society by 2030.
The President said as a listening leader, his door was always open for more engagements with the workers and further gave assurances that the Second Republic will continue respecting workers’ rights as enshrined in the constitution.
Last year President Mnangagwa awarded civil servants a surprise US$200 Presidential bonus while in March this year, the Second Republic awarded a 100 percent salary increase to its workers with the foreign component also increasing from US$200 to US$250 across the board while teachers were further cushioned with a US$80 teaching allowance.
Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Union spokesperson Mr David Dzatsunga acknowledged the increase in both forex and local currency remuneration for civil servants.
“The figures are not what we proposed as workers, but we want to believe they will still bring some relief to the plight of the civil servants.
Unfortunately, I cannot reveal how much of an increase it is because we took a position as a panel not to make the figures public after realizing that once they are made public, it triggers a lot of things on the market,” he said.
“Government put across their proposal which fell short of ours, but seeing the plight of our members, we felt it was better for that to be implemented as we continue with the negotiations.”
Government has been reviewing civil servants’ salaries constantly in order to cushion them from price hikes as it remains resolute in supporting and improving their welfare.
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