News / National
Teachers get bonuses on December 16
11 Dec 2013 at 03:39hrs | Views
TEACHERS are due to receive their long-awaited bonuses on December 16 allaying fears that the cash-strapped government would renege on its earlier promise to award all civil servants a 13th cheque.
According to the Zimbabwe Teacher's Association (Zimta) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu, the date was agreed on at a meeting of civil servants unions with Public Service minister Nicholas Goche in Harare yesterday.
Ndlovu said all teachers would get their bonuses in full on Monday next week, dispelling swirling rumours that they would only receive vouchers as payment in January 2014 instead of cash.
"I can confirm that we met the minister today (yesterday) and he told us that bonuses will be paid in full on December 16. That is the set date" Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu said communication to teachers would be sent out from today.
The government started paying out bonuses to civil servants in November, but rumours started circulating last week that the remaining civil servants, who include nurses and teachers, would not be getting a 13th cheque.
Ndlovu said teachers should not panic, but wait for official communication.
"Goche told us that as civil servants' unions, we should unite and prepare for negotiations for 2014 salaries. He also said we should be transparent and inform our members at each and every stage of negotiations," Ndlovu said.
At the formation of the now defunct inclusive government in February 2009, $100 vouchers were introduced to enable civil servants to buy goods from shops rather than exchange them for cash.
However, several teachers told Southern Eye on Monday that when schools closed last week, they were informed that vouchers would be reintroduced in January next year.
"During our last staff meeting, we were told that instead of getting cash in January, we would get vouchers similar to those that were used a few years back," one teacher said.
"We were also informed that a circular to that effect would follow before the end of December."
Leaders of civil servants' negotiators and the government were due to meet today to cement the assurances that all civil servants would get their bonuses.
According to the Zimbabwe Teacher's Association (Zimta) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu, the date was agreed on at a meeting of civil servants unions with Public Service minister Nicholas Goche in Harare yesterday.
Ndlovu said all teachers would get their bonuses in full on Monday next week, dispelling swirling rumours that they would only receive vouchers as payment in January 2014 instead of cash.
"I can confirm that we met the minister today (yesterday) and he told us that bonuses will be paid in full on December 16. That is the set date" Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu said communication to teachers would be sent out from today.
The government started paying out bonuses to civil servants in November, but rumours started circulating last week that the remaining civil servants, who include nurses and teachers, would not be getting a 13th cheque.
Ndlovu said teachers should not panic, but wait for official communication.
"Goche told us that as civil servants' unions, we should unite and prepare for negotiations for 2014 salaries. He also said we should be transparent and inform our members at each and every stage of negotiations," Ndlovu said.
At the formation of the now defunct inclusive government in February 2009, $100 vouchers were introduced to enable civil servants to buy goods from shops rather than exchange them for cash.
However, several teachers told Southern Eye on Monday that when schools closed last week, they were informed that vouchers would be reintroduced in January next year.
"During our last staff meeting, we were told that instead of getting cash in January, we would get vouchers similar to those that were used a few years back," one teacher said.
"We were also informed that a circular to that effect would follow before the end of December."
Leaders of civil servants' negotiators and the government were due to meet today to cement the assurances that all civil servants would get their bonuses.
Source - southerneye
