Harare, (New Ziana) – Civil Servants and the government failed to come up with a firm position on a salary review after a meeting on Wednesday, with the latter offering in the meantime to maintain an existing US$75 allowance until the end of the year.

Civil servants said Wednesday’s meeting was inconclusive on the salary
review issue as government workers were adamant the employer must pay at
least an equivalent to their October 2018 salary of US$475.

The government has already said it cannot afford to meet the demand.

Currently, the lowest paid civil servant takes home less than US$50 a month.

The government introduced the US$75 allowance, which was supposed to
run for three months, in June as a means to cushion its workers as
deliberations for a salary review in the wake of high inflation
continue.

“After deliberations, it was agreed that the government team consult
its principals and convene on Monday with the feedback,” Civil
Service Apex Council secretary David Dzatsunga said.

“The only take-away from the meeting is that the US$75 will remain in
place until December.”

The workers are demanding that the salary must at least be in line
with the poverty datum line for a family of five, which was pegged at
$15 573 in July.
New Ziana