Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, in an interview last week said that civil servants are happy with the increase in wages that has been given by the government.
The government increased wages for the public sector to meet the ever-rising costs of living in Zimbabwe.
“We have done 3 things already; we have paid $63 million at the beginning of the year’s first 3 months and a cushioning allowance in addition to salaries,” Ncube explained.
“We did a salary adjustment worth about $400 million on the first of April throughout the rest of the year and just last week we did another cushioning allowance worthy $143 million.”
The Minister went on to reveal a negotiation to increase salaries further.
“We budgeted for this, I think the civil servants will be happy in the way we responded to their needs,” Ncube said.
“Come year-end we will pay them (civil servants) their usual annual bonuses.”
The government has been in talks with organisations representing the workers on wage increases.
The Professor went on to state that it was the private sector that earns foreign currency which has not been increasing wages.
“I urge them (private sector) to do that (increase wages) so we can all move together and deal with the issue of wage erosion for Zimbabwean workers,” Ncube said.
“They work so hard and need to make sure that they are adequately compensated.”
Workers have however been in conflict with the government stating that the wages and working conditions were still low.
Government workers have been involved in industrial actions demanding payment in foreign currency than the Zimbabwe local Dollar which is devaluing against the United States Dollar.
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