Zimbabwe set to reconfigure civil servants' salaries

The Government is set to restructure civil servants' salaries in line with the outcomes of a long-awaited Job Evaluation Framework, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo has confirmed. The comprehensive exercise is expected to be finalised within the first quarter of 2026.

The framework, described as a scientific tool for determining the relative worth of positions within the public sector, aims to address decades of wage distortions and ensure that remuneration reflects both responsibility and seniority. Minister Moyo emphasised that while day-to-day salary negotiations remain the responsibility of the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC), current discussions are being guided by the pending evaluation.

"The matter of salary negotiations rests with the National Joint Negotiating Council," Minister Moyo said. "The framework is conceived when they make their demands to Government. On the basis of the offer and the demand, a salary package is negotiated. Salaries are being worked around the job evaluation framework, which is about to be concluded."

The Job Evaluation exercise forms a critical pillar of broader public sector reforms, aiming to establish a rational and equitable grading structure that accurately reflects the complexity and responsibilities of civil service roles. The last evaluation of this nature was conducted in 1995, and subsequent economic upheavals, including the hyperinflation and dollarisation periods, caused misalignment in grading and pay scales.

"The last job evaluation established grades and sub-grades. Now, because of interventions and collective bargaining outcomes over the years, misalignment occurred," Moyo explained. "During and after the hyperinflation period, people were essentially earning the same salary regardless of seniority. That has to be undone so that recognition is given to seniority."

The exercise involved a multi-stage validation process, beginning with data collection in 2025, followed by a ministry-by-ministry review conducted by consultants in collaboration with the Public Service Commission. Feedback from line ministries has been incorporated, and adjustments were made where necessary to ensure the new grading system reflects the current civil service structure.

"All that had to be done, taken to Cabinet, from Cabinet back to the ministries. The Public Service Commission then finalised the document. Before the end of this first quarter, this process will have been concluded," Moyo said.

The 2025 National Budget has allocated provisions to accommodate the financial implications of the new framework, though the minister clarified that the evaluation is not a blanket salary increase. Instead, it is a rationalisation exercise to ensure pay scales accurately reflect the duties of civil servants.

"A job evaluation is a scientific exercise to determine levels of salaries and grades. Some grades may have been inflated over the years, while others were undervalued. Those affected will naturally benefit from this exercise," Minister Moyo said. He added that while the findings will inform the new salary structure, adjustments will also take into account the prevailing economic climate and the fiscus' capacity to sustain changes.

The implementation of the Job Evaluation Framework marks a major milestone in Zimbabwe's public sector reform agenda, aiming to restore fairness, transparency, and efficiency in civil service remuneration.