News / Education
Teachers to take Govt to court over promotions
04 Apr 2013 at 04:03hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) is seeking legal advice against the Ministry of Public Service as it pushes for the lifting of the freezing of vacant posts, promotions and transfers by the Government.
Last week the Government announced that it had frozen the processing of transfers and filling of vacant posts in the civil service.
Processing of regradings and promotions were also stopped and the Government attributed the move to budgetary constraints.
In an interview yesterday, Zimta chief executive officer, Mr Sifiso Ndlovu, said the association would take Government to court if it does not "retract" its move to freeze promotions of civil servants and recruitment of new workers.
Mr Ndlovu said the move was an indication that there was nothing in store for civil servants this year and would definitely affect the education sector and demoralise teachers.
"As Zimta we are disappointed by the position that has been taken by the Government, which mostly affects teachers. It is demotivating and it means that the educators are not going to get salary increments and promotions, which affects one's progression in the profession," said Mr Ndlovu.
"We have decided to take the Government to court. We will hold an urgent meeting this week to strategise and look for a legal team to gather evidence to use against the Government since we do not have an Apex Council."
He said the freezing of vacant posts and transfers would not only affect the teachers but their families as well.
"There are some civil servants who were in the process of applying for transfers in order to join their families. If it is now impossible for them to be transferred then it is not fair to their families.
"We will also write to the Public Service Commission urging them to retract the statement and ensure that a more progressive way of solving the matter is agreed. Taking the Government to court is the only way we can deal with an employer who breaks the rules that he makes and we cannot allow that," said Mr Ndlovu.
He said the new constitution was clear about labour rights and appealed to the Government to adhere to them.
"We are happy that the new constitution gives more power to the employees to fight the employer in such circumstances where workers are being treated unfairly," said Mr Ndlovu.
The Government awarded civil servants a 5,3 percent inflation-related salary increase with effect from January this year, a figure the workers said was way below the Poverty Datum Line.
The lowest paid Government worker is taking home $296 while the PDL is above $600.
Last week the Government announced that it had frozen the processing of transfers and filling of vacant posts in the civil service.
Processing of regradings and promotions were also stopped and the Government attributed the move to budgetary constraints.
In an interview yesterday, Zimta chief executive officer, Mr Sifiso Ndlovu, said the association would take Government to court if it does not "retract" its move to freeze promotions of civil servants and recruitment of new workers.
Mr Ndlovu said the move was an indication that there was nothing in store for civil servants this year and would definitely affect the education sector and demoralise teachers.
"As Zimta we are disappointed by the position that has been taken by the Government, which mostly affects teachers. It is demotivating and it means that the educators are not going to get salary increments and promotions, which affects one's progression in the profession," said Mr Ndlovu.
"We have decided to take the Government to court. We will hold an urgent meeting this week to strategise and look for a legal team to gather evidence to use against the Government since we do not have an Apex Council."
"There are some civil servants who were in the process of applying for transfers in order to join their families. If it is now impossible for them to be transferred then it is not fair to their families.
"We will also write to the Public Service Commission urging them to retract the statement and ensure that a more progressive way of solving the matter is agreed. Taking the Government to court is the only way we can deal with an employer who breaks the rules that he makes and we cannot allow that," said Mr Ndlovu.
He said the new constitution was clear about labour rights and appealed to the Government to adhere to them.
"We are happy that the new constitution gives more power to the employees to fight the employer in such circumstances where workers are being treated unfairly," said Mr Ndlovu.
The Government awarded civil servants a 5,3 percent inflation-related salary increase with effect from January this year, a figure the workers said was way below the Poverty Datum Line.
The lowest paid Government worker is taking home $296 while the PDL is above $600.
Source - TC
