Civil servants give Government a 14 day ultimatum over pay

Civil servants have handed Government a 14 day ultimatum to respond to their salary hike demands after Wednesday talks failed to yield favorable results.

Apex Council president Tendai Chikowore said  government was not prepared to accept their salary proposal resulting in a deadlock.

"The ball is  now in their court, it is up to them (Government) to give us a response" she said.

"For harmony to prevail they should respond before we receive our next salaries."

She said civil servants cannot embark o a strike "when government has not yet told us their position"

Chikowore said government has not offered them anything and her council has again submitted their salary and allowances adjustments proposals and hopes for a positive response by month end.

"Government had no position, instead they wanted to dwell much on issues that do not address the salaries review. We are expecting our salaries to be adjusted this month, failure to that we are engaging into an industrial action," said Mrs Chikowore.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe and  College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe President David Dzatsunga  have also threatened that failure by government to review their salaries this month would force them to resort to industrial action.

"We want government to fulfill its promises and stop playing hide and seek with us," Mr Majongwe said.

Civil servants are demanding a minimum salary of $538.

Currently, the lowest paid government workers gets $296 a month.