News / Education
Govt comes up with a new pay deal for civil servants
23 Jan 2012 at 22:06hrs | Views
GOVERNMENT has come up with a new position paper on salaries and working conditions for civil servants to be revealed to the Apex Council during tomorrow's National Joint Negotiating Council meeting, the Herald reported.
The NJNC brings together Government and workers' representatives to the negotiating table.
The meeting comes at a time when the civil servants' strike gathered momentum yesterday, paralysing the education sector.
Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga yesterday said: "The Government now has a position paper on salaries and conditions of service for public servants, which will be presented to the NJNC on Wednesday January 25, 2012."
The Apex Council yesterday described the first day of the strike as a "resounding success".
The strike is expected to last until Friday and nurses are likely to join by end of day today if negotiations with the Health Service Board yield nothing.
The Apex Council comprises the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe and the Public Service Association.
"In an effort to build on the momentum gathered, Apex Council will do picketing at a few Government offices, schools and colleges, which have remained pockets of resistance.
"The strike will demonstrate the seriousness and resolve workers can take on bread and butter issues," said the Apex Council in a statement.
Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity Mr George Charamba said the Presidency was closely monitoring the negotiations between Government and civil servants and needed "something" to be done for the workers.
Mr Charamba said Acting President John Nkomo last week summoned the inter-ministerial taskforce on civil servants and asked it to urgently consolidate Government's position paper.
He said it was agreed that while negotiations continue, "some comfort" had to be extended to civil servants and the Presidency was anxiously waiting for tomorrow's meeting.
"Last week, the Acting President summoned the taskforce for civil servants, including Finance Minister Tendai Biti, needing to be briefed on the progress or lack of it in respect of the negotiations between Government and its workers," he said. "The Presidency is very close to this whole process, principally out of concern for the welfare of the workforce and also because the Presidency wants to ensure continuous supply of public services."
He said the Acting President had indicated to the taskforce that this was a "very loaded" year and service delivery should not be compromised.
Mr Charamba said the year has just begun and important national programmes like the referendum and elections should not be compromised.
"During the meeting, it was agreed that there was need to approximate the salaries towards the Poverty Datum Line equally appreciating constraints Government is facing by way of shrinkage of revenue," he said.
"There was recognition of possibilities within the country's means, especially an uninterrupted transaction related to the mining sector, principally diamond resources.
"Should this be allowed to operate unimpeded from external forces, then we should be able to bring better comfort to the workers."
Civil servants' salaries are tied to an increase in diamond revenue.
Last week, Minister Biti attacked the US for placing Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources under sanctions.
In a letter to US assistant secretary of treasury, Mr Charles Collyns, Minister Biti pleaded with the Americans to scrap the embargo, saying capital projects worth US$600 million proposed in his 2012 National Budget totally depended on diamond revenue.
Business ground to a standstill at most schools, with civil servants' unions pressing ahead with the strike until they get an increment.
Teachers at such schools as David Livingstone, Avondale and Blakiston primary schools, who ignored the strike last week, yesterday joined the industrial action.
There was no sign of activity at schools on the periphery of Harare and in most cases, pupils were sent back home in the morning.
Similar situations were reported in Hurungwe, Gutu, Bulawayo, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Mutare, Beitbridge and Mutoko.
At Government departments, most workers reported for duty while others said they were on go-slow.
The NJNC brings together Government and workers' representatives to the negotiating table.
The meeting comes at a time when the civil servants' strike gathered momentum yesterday, paralysing the education sector.
Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga yesterday said: "The Government now has a position paper on salaries and conditions of service for public servants, which will be presented to the NJNC on Wednesday January 25, 2012."
The Apex Council yesterday described the first day of the strike as a "resounding success".
The strike is expected to last until Friday and nurses are likely to join by end of day today if negotiations with the Health Service Board yield nothing.
The Apex Council comprises the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe and the Public Service Association.
"In an effort to build on the momentum gathered, Apex Council will do picketing at a few Government offices, schools and colleges, which have remained pockets of resistance.
"The strike will demonstrate the seriousness and resolve workers can take on bread and butter issues," said the Apex Council in a statement.
Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity Mr George Charamba said the Presidency was closely monitoring the negotiations between Government and civil servants and needed "something" to be done for the workers.
Mr Charamba said Acting President John Nkomo last week summoned the inter-ministerial taskforce on civil servants and asked it to urgently consolidate Government's position paper.
He said it was agreed that while negotiations continue, "some comfort" had to be extended to civil servants and the Presidency was anxiously waiting for tomorrow's meeting.
"Last week, the Acting President summoned the taskforce for civil servants, including Finance Minister Tendai Biti, needing to be briefed on the progress or lack of it in respect of the negotiations between Government and its workers," he said. "The Presidency is very close to this whole process, principally out of concern for the welfare of the workforce and also because the Presidency wants to ensure continuous supply of public services."
He said the Acting President had indicated to the taskforce that this was a "very loaded" year and service delivery should not be compromised.
Mr Charamba said the year has just begun and important national programmes like the referendum and elections should not be compromised.
"During the meeting, it was agreed that there was need to approximate the salaries towards the Poverty Datum Line equally appreciating constraints Government is facing by way of shrinkage of revenue," he said.
"There was recognition of possibilities within the country's means, especially an uninterrupted transaction related to the mining sector, principally diamond resources.
"Should this be allowed to operate unimpeded from external forces, then we should be able to bring better comfort to the workers."
Civil servants' salaries are tied to an increase in diamond revenue.
Last week, Minister Biti attacked the US for placing Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources under sanctions.
In a letter to US assistant secretary of treasury, Mr Charles Collyns, Minister Biti pleaded with the Americans to scrap the embargo, saying capital projects worth US$600 million proposed in his 2012 National Budget totally depended on diamond revenue.
Business ground to a standstill at most schools, with civil servants' unions pressing ahead with the strike until they get an increment.
Teachers at such schools as David Livingstone, Avondale and Blakiston primary schools, who ignored the strike last week, yesterday joined the industrial action.
There was no sign of activity at schools on the periphery of Harare and in most cases, pupils were sent back home in the morning.
Similar situations were reported in Hurungwe, Gutu, Bulawayo, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Mutare, Beitbridge and Mutoko.
At Government departments, most workers reported for duty while others said they were on go-slow.
Source - TH
