News / National
Civil servants getting $1 pay rise
29 Dec 2013 at 23:36hrs | Views
Civil servants are reportedly getting only $1 salary increase when promoted and then $5 after five years.
The revelation is contained in a position paper by the Apex Council - an umbrella body representing all State employees.
Since formalisation of the multi-currency system in early 2009, many employers have not implemented significant salary differences between grades according to experience, seniority or qualifications; and this includes Government.
"Currently, difference between one step and the next step for teachers, for instance those who fall under the d1 category - straight from college - is about US$1 per year, while they get an increment of US$5 after five years," said Zimta chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu.
"That is what we want to be corrected because at the moment there is no incentive for junior teachers to aspire to be promoted because the salary difference is insignificant.
"The difference is about US$5 (after five years) yet if one is a senior teacher they can be acting headmaster in the absence of the head and the deputy.
"It is for that reason that some teachers are reluctant to be promoted because more responsibilities mean they may end up spending the little they are getting for school business."
The position paper, signed by Apex Council team leader Mr Richard Gundane, calls for an urgent decompression of grades that takes into cognisance experience, seniority and qualifications.
Government workers want this to be implemented through next month's negotiations on their conditions of service.
The paper goes on to say, "Civil service workers in Zimbabwe have suffered financial prejudice due to inadequate remuneration since the economic meltdown," reads the position paper.
"The majority of employees in the General Key Scale have earned remuneration below the poverty datum line by at least 50 percent. This has reduced civil servants to poor and pathetic workers in the country."
The revelation is contained in a position paper by the Apex Council - an umbrella body representing all State employees.
Since formalisation of the multi-currency system in early 2009, many employers have not implemented significant salary differences between grades according to experience, seniority or qualifications; and this includes Government.
"Currently, difference between one step and the next step for teachers, for instance those who fall under the d1 category - straight from college - is about US$1 per year, while they get an increment of US$5 after five years," said Zimta chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu.
"That is what we want to be corrected because at the moment there is no incentive for junior teachers to aspire to be promoted because the salary difference is insignificant.
"It is for that reason that some teachers are reluctant to be promoted because more responsibilities mean they may end up spending the little they are getting for school business."
The position paper, signed by Apex Council team leader Mr Richard Gundane, calls for an urgent decompression of grades that takes into cognisance experience, seniority and qualifications.
Government workers want this to be implemented through next month's negotiations on their conditions of service.
The paper goes on to say, "Civil service workers in Zimbabwe have suffered financial prejudice due to inadequate remuneration since the economic meltdown," reads the position paper.
"The majority of employees in the General Key Scale have earned remuneration below the poverty datum line by at least 50 percent. This has reduced civil servants to poor and pathetic workers in the country."
Source - Herald | Newsbite
