Zimbabwean teachers take salary dispute to ILO

Zimbabwean teachers have escalated their long-standing labour dispute with the government to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), citing deteriorating working conditions, low pay, and continued state inaction in addressing their grievances.

The latest development follows months of unfruitful engagements between teachers' unions and government authorities, including petitions submitted to the Ministry of Finance, the Public Service Commission (PSC), and even President Emmerson Mnangagwa's office - all of which yielded no formal resolution.

The educators are demanding a return to pre-October 2018 salary levels of at least US$540 per month. Currently, teachers earn the equivalent of roughly US$250 plus ZiG3,000 - an amount unions say falls far short of the living wage in today's economic climate.

In a letter dated June 11, 2025, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) formally appealed to Karen Curtis, the chief of the ILO's Freedom of Association Branch. Artuz president Obert Masaraure expressed frustration with the government's "lack of urgency" in addressing the crisis.

"We note with disappointment that the government seems not to be taking this matter seriously," Masaraure wrote. "To date, the only feedback we've received was an informal call from the ZCTU requesting us to propose two conciliators. That was in March. We've heard nothing since."

Curtis acknowledged the union's submission and pledged to forward the complaint to the Zimbabwean government for response. "In accordance with the procedure in force, the contents of your communication will be transmitted to government for its observations thereon," she said.

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) also attempted to engage Mnangagwa directly, delivering a petition warning of a collapsing education system. The union did not meet the President but left a document at his office outlining the crisis.

Artuz further raised alarms over state-led intimidation and alleged rights violations. Masaraure claimed that on May 12, suspected State agents broke into their offices and tampered with surveillance equipment ahead of a planned protest. On April 24, police allegedly blocked the union's elective congress unless officers were permitted to observe proceedings.

Earlier this week, nine Artuz members were arrested in Mutare during a peaceful demonstration after they handed a petition to PSC officials. Artuz condemned the arrests as a violation of constitutional rights.

"These arrests are a direct breach of Section 59 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful protest and petition," Artuz said in a statement. The union also vowed to engage both the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the ILO over what it termed "gross abuse of human and workers' rights."

The Parents Teachers Association has since joined Artuz in demanding the immediate release of the detained educators.

While government officials have previously stated they are working on improving conditions for civil servants, tangible progress remains elusive. Teachers say they are now pinning their hopes on international pressure to bring the crisis to a head.

With rising inflation, a struggling local currency, and persistent underfunding of the education sector, the standoff has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over workers' rights and governance in Zimbabwe.