Teachers start receiving their salary increments

TEACHERS smiled all the way to the banks yesterday to withdraw their salaries that reflect increases backdated to January.

The educators flooded banks, with some queuing as early as 5.30AM in an effort to beat the long queues.

Last week, soldiers received their backdated salary increments, while the rest of state employees are set to get their dues before the end of this month.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche assured civil servants early this month that government workers would definitely get their salary increments this month backdated to January 2014, as promised by the government.

When Chronicle visited some banks in Bulawayo, hordes of teachers were queuing patiently as they waited for their turn to withdraw their much-awaited cash.

"We have just received our salaries, with the promised increments backdated to January and we are happy. I can now go on the Easter and Independence holidays with a smile," said a teacher after withdrawing his cash at a bank in Bulawayo.

The ecstatic teachers confirmed that they had received the back pay, with most of them saying their salaries were nearly $700. They applauded government for honouring its promise.

"I'm happy that the government has honoured its promises. We were eagerly waiting for this money. The money is not much but it will go a long way in catering for my family's welfare. I want to also commend the Apex Council for doing a great job. I hope they will continue to lobby for other non-monetary benefits."

Zimbabwe Teachers' Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu confirmed that teachers had started receiving their salary increments.

He said the increment was an encouraging move that is meant to restore the dignity of teachers.

Ndlovu applauded the government for honouring its promise, saying negotiations would continue as they pursue the fulfillment of other non-monetary benefits promised by their employer.

"Teachers have started receiving their salary increments backdated to January and we are happy. We are yet to analyse the interpretation of the salaries and see whether the teachers received the exact salaries that were agreed on paper," said Ndlovu.

"Some teachers, however, feel that the money they have received is insufficient and not commensurate to their grades. This is an administrative matter that we will pursue and look into and bring to the attention of the government."

He, however, said his association had received reports from some teachers who felt that their salary increments were miscalculated.

The government and civil servants representatives agreed on a salary deal in January that would see the lowest paid employee getting three quarters of the Poverty Datum Line which they set at $505.

The new salary structure will result in the lowest paid civil servant in Grade B1 getting $375 in basic salary, up from $297.  Transport ($66) and housing allowance ($91) remained unchanged.

The government has said another salary review is expected mid-year and the implementation of non-monetary and indigenisation benefits would take centre stage in-between.

Ministers have also agreed to mobilise an additional $3 million every month for the decompression of salary grades, a move that would see the workers being paid according to seniority, qualification and experience.