News / National
ZCTU calls for salaries hike
20 Dec 2017 at 05:15hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has urged employers to increase salaries for their workers by up to 50 percent in tandem with recent basic commodities price hikes.
The Union's calls come as President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Government officials and the generality of the country's citizens have condemned the unjustified price hikes of basic commodities.
In a statement yesterday, ZCTU secretary general Mr Japhet Moyo said price increases were hard on employees most of whom earn less than $300 per month, hence the need for a salary increase to cushion them.
"We unreservedly condemn the enormous margins of the recent increases in prices that have seriously eroded the income of ordinary workers who are finding it hard to survive on their meagre wages.
"Labour notes that most of the workers earn an average of $300 a month and therefore cannot afford to buy the goods in most shops and they will have a sad festive season," said Mr Moyo.
"We demand a 50 percent upward review of wages and salaries across the board to compensate for the increase in prices of basic commodities."
Mr Moyo appealed to the Government to investigate and address the causes of price hikes.
"The ZCTU also demands that Government deals with root causes of the economic rot and profiteering and desist from offering piecemeal solutions that in the long run will cost the country greatly," he said.
Mr Moyo condemned the illegal three tier pricing model adopted by some businesses calling on Government to act to bring sanity to the business sector.
President Mnangagwa on Monday challenged the business sector to exercise discipline in their activities and shun profiteering tendencies.
"I urge our wholesalers and retailers, as we approach this festive season, to refrain from profiteering by charging unscrupulous prices and never to put measures that may derail our efforts for a quick turnaround of the economy," he said.
"Government wants to protect the rights of consumers and ensure that its citizenry is not short changed or duped by unscrupulous dealers. Our people need a decent festive season where they can merry-make and enjoy their holidays."
The President has said that Government is addressing cash shortages as well as assisting industries in reviving the country's economy.
The Union's calls come as President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Government officials and the generality of the country's citizens have condemned the unjustified price hikes of basic commodities.
In a statement yesterday, ZCTU secretary general Mr Japhet Moyo said price increases were hard on employees most of whom earn less than $300 per month, hence the need for a salary increase to cushion them.
"We unreservedly condemn the enormous margins of the recent increases in prices that have seriously eroded the income of ordinary workers who are finding it hard to survive on their meagre wages.
"Labour notes that most of the workers earn an average of $300 a month and therefore cannot afford to buy the goods in most shops and they will have a sad festive season," said Mr Moyo.
"We demand a 50 percent upward review of wages and salaries across the board to compensate for the increase in prices of basic commodities."
Mr Moyo appealed to the Government to investigate and address the causes of price hikes.
"The ZCTU also demands that Government deals with root causes of the economic rot and profiteering and desist from offering piecemeal solutions that in the long run will cost the country greatly," he said.
Mr Moyo condemned the illegal three tier pricing model adopted by some businesses calling on Government to act to bring sanity to the business sector.
President Mnangagwa on Monday challenged the business sector to exercise discipline in their activities and shun profiteering tendencies.
"I urge our wholesalers and retailers, as we approach this festive season, to refrain from profiteering by charging unscrupulous prices and never to put measures that may derail our efforts for a quick turnaround of the economy," he said.
"Government wants to protect the rights of consumers and ensure that its citizenry is not short changed or duped by unscrupulous dealers. Our people need a decent festive season where they can merry-make and enjoy their holidays."
The President has said that Government is addressing cash shortages as well as assisting industries in reviving the country's economy.
Source - Chronicle
