Faith Duri
Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (ZINATU) has criticised the decision by government to offer 100 percent salary increment to civil servants saying it serves no purpose to the already suffering workers.
In a petition letter dated June 20 undersigned by ZINATU Secretary General Livison Maunganidze directed to the Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima, ZINATU described the 100 percent increment as a big mockery to workers.
“The ZINATU acknowledges the ongoing dialogue at the national joint negotiating council, however we have noted with gravy and debilitating concern that the idea of using percentage in arriving at new levels of remuneration is misfiring by government as it can no longer work in today’s hyper inflation environment.
“If salaries are increased by 100 percent, it would appear that salaries have been increased by a huge margin yet 100 percent of nothing is nothing. The figures being arrived at after a 100 percent increment on salaries remain a big mockery to workers,” read part of the petition.
Maunganidze also criticised decision by government to stick to local currency at the expense of foreign currency.
“The economy whether we like it or not, had fully dollarized and anything to the contrary is rejecting the naked truth. Dismissing or ongoing this fact only serves to exacerbate the suffering of employees, the Zimbabwean dollar salaries have totally been eroded by the ever galloping inflation.
“Employees can not catch up with the parallel market rate which is fleecing employees of their hard earned cash yet the same employees have no other alternative than to resort to using parallel market rate to transact,” added the petition.
The petition also stated that ZINATU proposed government should make a paradigm shift by moving from increasing salaries in ZW$ percent to using real US$ increment method.
“Government should move or adjust the current US$ component of US$ 175 to US$ 540 for the lowest paid with immediate effect and should also allow employees to have the option to withdraw all their remaining ZW$ balances in US$ over the counter at bank rate,” read the letter.
However, the union urged government to consider workers grievances when engaging in dialogues with them.
“Government should expedite the process of dialogue to avoid short changing employees.
“The process of negotiations should not take too long and should avoid taking time with consultations within itself and that the consultation is limited to an agreed number,” added the petition.
The stalemate between government and civil servants has been on going and currently nurses and doctors at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals are protesting against poor wages and working conditions while at the same time demanding salaries in foreign currency.
