Civil servants sweat over bonuses

The government says its coffers are empty and as a result some of its employees will not get their bonuses this month as expected, much to the annoyance of leaders of the workers' representatives.

Speaking to Studio 7 after meeting leaders of workers' representative bodies in Harare yesterday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche (pictured) said the government wouldn't be able to pay bonuses to all its workers as expected because its coffers are empty.

Goche said this decision was reached following consultations with the finance ministry.

But Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe general secretary, Raymond Majongwe, said government workers should be treated equally.

President of the Progressive Educators Union of Zimbabwe, Wilson Makanyaire, echoed the same sentiments saying government should walk its talk on its promises for its employees' bonuses.

Meanwhile, Goche said negotiations between government and its employees for salary adjustments are expected to resume next month.

However, Majongwe warned that civil servants may down their tools if the negotiations do not yield the desired results.

Civil servants say they want their salaries increased so that the least paid worker earns at least $680 per month.

A recent survey conducted by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe concluded that a family of six requires at least $592 per month to survive.

Currently, the least paid government employee earns $250.