Zimbabwe reviews nurses' risk allowances

The government says it is reviewing risk and health-specific allowances for nurses and other healthcare workers as it seeks to address growing dissatisfaction over pay and working conditions.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora told the National Assembly that authorities were assessing proposals submitted by health workers, although he stopped short of committing to a general salary increase.

"Government is further evaluating a submission made by the health workers to increase health-specific and risk allowances applicable to health workers, according to prevailing economic conditions and available fiscal space," Mombeshora said.

He added that further discussions would take place through the Best Negotiated Package (BNP), the formal platform used for wage negotiations between the government and health workers.

"Further engagements to consider the workers' position will be addressed through the Best Negotiated Package (BNP), a platform for negotiations between the employer and health workers," he said.

The review comes amid continued discontent within Zimbabwe's public health sector, where nurses have repeatedly threatened or embarked on industrial action, citing low salaries and the rising cost of living.

Nurses are demanding that their salaries be increased from the current package of just under US$300, supplemented by a local currency component, to US$600 per month.

Health workers also argue that allowances, last reviewed in 2022, have lost significant value due to rising transport, housing and other living costs.

Mombeshora said the process of reviewing the allowances was already underway, with revised proposals expected to be submitted through the appropriate government channels.

"Proposals have been made, and the first proposals for allowances that were made were adjusted. We now await the new proposals, because when we have new proposals which are discussed between the Health Service Commission and the health workers, they are put together and presented to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, who in turn will present them to the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion," he said.

"I think that is the stage where we are at now, for the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to have the discussions with the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, with the comprehensive list of allowances which were last reviewed in 2022."

The government's response comes as healthcare workers continue to press for improved remuneration, arguing that stagnant salaries and outdated allowances are contributing to low morale and making it increasingly difficult for public hospitals to retain skilled staff.