Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
Teachers Unions have lambasted the government for unliterally increasing workers salaries by 100% insisting that the government should have first consulted them and come up with a conclusive consensus before the increment.
In a statement, PTUZ president, Dr Takavafira Zhou said the government communicated the increase amid negotiations.
He said, “that the government team of negotiators in the NJNC (National Joint Negotiating Council) failed to turn up for a pencilled meeting on 20 March is unfortunate in a country 43 years after attaining independence. Needless to mention that it was the government team of negotiators that had postponed the meeting from 17th of March. As if that was not enough a government document dated 15 March, from Sec for Finance & Economic Development (G. Guvamatanga) to the chairman of the Public Service Commission (Dr V. Hungwe) seems to communicate the government’s official position on salary increments. What is worrisome is that authentic communication is made before the conclusion of negotiations, an indicator of unfair labour practice on the part of the government.”
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president, Obert Masaraure also castigated government’s move to increase civil servants salaries without an agreement.
He told 263times that the current salary offer by government was not enough to sustain teachers and the rest of the civil servants.
“ARTUZ rejects the salary increment imposed on us by government, we reject it because we don’t believe in unilateralism, we have always insisted that if conditions of any other worker are going to be fixed or revealed it has to go through a process of genuine collective bargaining.
“Secondly we also reject it because its not enough to meet the needs of the ordinary teacher, the basket of needs is already expanded to USD1 260, if we are going to do our proper calculations the amount that is being offered by government to teachers and any other civil servants doesn’t amount to anything above USD400,” said Masaraure.
Zimbabwe has experienced significant economic challenges in recent years, including high inflation rates and currency devaluation.
These challenges have led to widespread wage cuts and layoffs in many sectors, leaving many workers struggling to make ends meet.
In 2018, the government of Zimbabwe announced a salary increase for civil servants, which was seen as a positive development by many workers. However, the impact of this increase was limited by inflation and the devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar, which has continued to depreciate against major currencies.
Over the years, healthcare workers, teachers, and civil servants have embarked on industrial action demanding better pay and working conditions.
The strikes were met with a heavy-handed response from the government.