Zimbabwe public servants offered a paltry $52 increment

GOVERNMENT yesterday offered civil servants salary increments of US$84 for the highest-paid worker and US$52 for the least-paid, which the unions rejected and vowed to continue with their strike.

The workers' representatives met Government negotiators yesterday who presented a resource envelope of US$240 million to imp-rove civil servants' salaries and working conditions.

The increment, which is on a sliding scale, does not indicate how much the workers would receive on basic salary, transport and housing allowances.

There are about 236 000 Government workers.

The workers, who had suspended the strike hoping something "meaningful" would come out of yesterday's meeting, are demanding US$538 for the least-paid worker.

In its position paper, the Government, led by chief negotiator Mr Prince Mupazviriho, argued that the wage bill for civil servants this year is US$1,488 billion while last year it was US$1,248 billion.

"It, therefore, means that US$240 million per annum is the increase on the current employment cost. It is this amount that has to be used to for conditions of service for 2012 for the civil servants.

"It is this amount that has to address the competing interests of the Government and workers vis-à-vis the economy."

Government said revenue projections were not clear and sustainable wages had to be set.

"The US$600 million assumed from diamond proceeds revenue for 2012 is shrouded in uncertainty, hence making it an unreliable source of revenue given that sanctions were extended to our diamond mining companies," the position paper added.

Government said it wanted the lowest-paid worker in Grade B1 to get US$430.

If met, the workers' demands would have pushed the wage bill for this year to US$3 billion, a figure Government said was not sustainable. Apex Council chairperson and Zimbabwe Teachers Association president, Mrs Tendai Chikowore, described the increment as an "ambiguous offer".

"Apex Council has rejected the consolidated figure and has asked Government to unpack that figure so as to respond to the express demands on salary, housing and transport allowances," she said.

"In light of this development, we are left with no option, but to return to the trenches tomorrow as originally planned. Let's continue the strike and effectively turn up in large numbers. We will map the way forward after a review tomorrow."

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said the figure was "unacceptable".

"Why don't they unpack the figure themselves and tell us what they have offered in terms of the basic salary and allowances. This is insincerity at its highest level and this will give more workers energy to show their displeasure by joining the strike," he said.

Teachers Union of Zimbabwe chief executive Mr Manuel Nyawo said they expected the Government to give them a salary structure not a "budget analysis".

"This is shocking news from Government. How can they come to explain the budget before us, instead of doing what they used to do in the past that is unpacking the figure and telling us what we are getting?" he said.

Another National Joint Negotiating Council meeting is slated for next Tuesday.