Govt confirms new salary structure for civil servants

On Tuesday the GOVERNMENT confirmed the new salary structure for civil servants that will see the lowest-paid employee taking home US$296, up from US$253.

The increase was effected on housing and transport allowances only.

Those in B1 grade who include office orderlies are the lowest-paid Government workers. The workers in grade C1 will get US$353 up from US$304.

Most teachers, nurses and members of the uniformed forces who are in grade D1 and above will be getting US$419, while those in the E5 grade such as deputy directors and chief accountants will receive US$508 net.

The new salary structure takes effect from January this year.

This came out during the National Joint Negotiating Council meeting between Government and civil servants negotiators in Harare yesterday.

Apex Council chairperson and Zimbabwe Teachers Association president Mrs Tendai Chikowore yesterday said there was no increment on basic salary.

"From the options they had given us, we saw it wise to increase the housing and transport allowances only. This means the workers will have more net income. Other statutory deductions that are a factor of basic salary will remain stagnant. The allowances are pensionable and not taxable hence the choice of that option," she said.

Mrs Chikowore said they will start appealing to the three principals in the inclusive Government to have the basic salary improved, beginning with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai today.

Mrs Chikowore dismissed as "unfortunate" Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga's assertion that Apex Council had rejected an offer of rural allowances.

"At no stage in the negotiating process had an additional offer of this allowance been offered, rather an insinuation to the effect that the US$240 million could be wholly appropriated to rural allowance. This is the insinuation that Apex Council rejected as discriminatory, divisive and unacceptable."

Teachers Union of Zimbabwe chief executive officer Mr Manuel Nyawo said while they were urging members to report for duty, most of them were doing so under protest.

"This figure is just pathetic and we have agreed because we want to move forward," he said. "We will continue fighting until Government gives us a decent salary. Most of the leaders are living large while the rest of the ordinary workers wallow in poverty.

We don't want to create a corrupt nation hence our calls for a decent salary. Everyone earning below the poverty datum line ends up surviving corruptly," he said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general, Mr Raymond Majongwe, said a new package should be paid by July this year.

"To treasury, we say buying cars for ministers and MPs aside and concentrate on increasing the basic salary of the people you lead.

"We have a lot of minerals in the country and during our meeting we set up a committee on resource tracking."

"This committee includes four members from Apex and four from Government," he said.

"They will urgently inform the NJNC whenever they notice an increase in revenue inflows. Government should for the meantime work on increasing the basic salary because no one would execute his or her duties on an empty stomach."

The workers have been agitating for a salary increment in tandem with the PDL since 2009 without success. Government is pinning hope on diamond revenues, but the continued existence of sanctions as well as placing of diamond mining firms on the embargoes is retarding development.