News / National
Government, civil servants to clash, workers demand $502 minimum salary
06 Jun 2011 at 13:11hrs | Views
GOVERNMENT and civil servants are on a collision course over salary increment as the latter continues to push for a US$502 poverty datum line-based minimum salary.
Government - through Finance Minister Tendai Biti and his Public Service counterpart, Minister Eliphas Mukoweshuro - has resolutely indicated that it cannot increase the salaries.
Civil servants representatives, the Apex Council, have petitioned Government on their expectations.
The representatives recently met President Mugabe to air their grievances.
The Head of State and Government who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces indicated that the civil servants could expect the lowest earner to get double the US$128 they are currently earning.
In an interview yesterday, Apex Council chairperson, Mrs Tendai Chikowore said civil servants and Government representatives would meet next week to get feedback from the latter.
She, however, said her mandate was to demand a minimum salary which is above the poverty datum line for the least paid employee.
"We are meeting Government representatives next Wednesday. Government is going to give us a position on how much they are providing.
"However, we have a mandate from the workers who have told us that they want salaries which are above the poverty datum line," Mrs Chikowore said.
"Members have told us that they want salaries that are above the poverty datum line. I cannot pronounce any other position than that we were mandated to push for."
She said the council would, however, be guided by Government's offer.
"I was talking to Mr (Nelson) Sambureni, chairperson of the National Joint Negotiating Council on Tuesday and he told me that he was talking to Government representatives. He hinted that the negotiations were almost over.
"However, I cannot pre-empt our position in case we don't get what we have asked for because that will be prejudicial to the negotiations," she said.
Mr Sambureni yesterday said he was only facilitating dialogue between Government and workers' representatives.
He, however, said he was not aware of the current salary structures.
"I wouldn't know how much is going to be tabled because the issue is being dealt with by the President and other GPA principals," he said.
He also confirmed that there would be a meeting between Government and workers' representatives.
National Joint Negotiating Council comprises of negotiators from Government and civil servants, who are represented by several public service unions, among them the Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Public Service Association.
Government - through Finance Minister Tendai Biti and his Public Service counterpart, Minister Eliphas Mukoweshuro - has resolutely indicated that it cannot increase the salaries.
Civil servants representatives, the Apex Council, have petitioned Government on their expectations.
The representatives recently met President Mugabe to air their grievances.
The Head of State and Government who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces indicated that the civil servants could expect the lowest earner to get double the US$128 they are currently earning.
In an interview yesterday, Apex Council chairperson, Mrs Tendai Chikowore said civil servants and Government representatives would meet next week to get feedback from the latter.
She, however, said her mandate was to demand a minimum salary which is above the poverty datum line for the least paid employee.
"We are meeting Government representatives next Wednesday. Government is going to give us a position on how much they are providing.
"However, we have a mandate from the workers who have told us that they want salaries which are above the poverty datum line," Mrs Chikowore said.
"Members have told us that they want salaries that are above the poverty datum line. I cannot pronounce any other position than that we were mandated to push for."
She said the council would, however, be guided by Government's offer.
"I was talking to Mr (Nelson) Sambureni, chairperson of the National Joint Negotiating Council on Tuesday and he told me that he was talking to Government representatives. He hinted that the negotiations were almost over.
"However, I cannot pre-empt our position in case we don't get what we have asked for because that will be prejudicial to the negotiations," she said.
Mr Sambureni yesterday said he was only facilitating dialogue between Government and workers' representatives.
He, however, said he was not aware of the current salary structures.
"I wouldn't know how much is going to be tabled because the issue is being dealt with by the President and other GPA principals," he said.
He also confirmed that there would be a meeting between Government and workers' representatives.
National Joint Negotiating Council comprises of negotiators from Government and civil servants, who are represented by several public service unions, among them the Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Public Service Association.
Source - TNZ
