Government plans to pay civil servants in installments has flopped as representatives of the civil service revealed that the majority of their stakeholders rejected the $100 advance payment proposal.
Government on Monday met civil servants’ unions and offered them $100 for transport while they awaited their June salaries to be paid in a fortnight. The employer offered to pay the advance payment by Friday, but civil servants said they would give their position today after consulting their membership.
Apex Council team leader Cecilia Alexander said they were finalising consultations to make a determination.
Government, which is facing cash flow challenges, has managed to pay members of the Zimbabwe National Army and Air Force of Zimbabwe while police and prison officers will get their dues tomorrow. Teachers will get their salaries on July 7 while health workers and the rest of the civil service will be paid on July 14.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu, said their members “were ready for anything.” “We are in the middle of consultations, people are very angry and we don’t know how to control them,” he said.
Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union national spokesperson Gibson Mushangu, said for rural workers, the $100 would be eroded by expenses. “Members are saying the money will be spent on transport other than taking care of their welfare,” he said.
“To access that money it means travelling to withdraw it and on arrival at the bank one might even fail to get it. So they are saying come last day of the month we won’t be able to go to work.”
Said Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Raymond Majongwe: “People are arguing that if we start off like this, it will continue like this forever. Workers want their lump sum for food, rentals and other liabilities. They are saying Government should come back to the table with a better offer or they go on strike.”
- Herald
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