By Sharon Tawuya
Harare, September 11, 2026 (New Ziana)—Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo on Thursday said civil servants and pensioners will have to wait for the upcoming collective bargaining sessions to determine if they will get a “meaningful” pay increase to cushion them against the rising cost of living.
Responding to questions from Senators in the Senate, Moyo said salary reviews are negotiated seasonally and are currently due to begin toward year-end.
Senator Maggie Chakabuda had asked when government workers could expect a meaningful increase to match inflation and the cost of living.
Moyo said the process is guided by dialogue.
“These come through a cycle of collective bargaining sessions, which are now currently going into the seasonal session toward the end of the year where civil servants and government meet and discuss their conditions, and salaries are included,” he said.
However, he stopped short of making any commitment.
“I might not hazard and give as to when those negotiations will be concluded but I am aware that these are always ongoing,” he said.
Responding to a follow-up question on the status of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum, Moyo clarified its mandate.
“TNF is not a bargaining forum, it is a forum that brings together government, labour and employers so that demands by workers will not overrun what employers can afford,” he said.
Civil servants last received a salary adjustment in January 2026, when Government awarded a 10% cost-of-living allowance across the public service.
Pensioners also got a modest increment at the time, but both groups have said the adjustment has been eroded by inflation and rising prices of basic goods.
This year Government also rolled out a Job Evaluation Exercise aimed at grading all public service posts to ensure equity and fairness in remuneration.
The exercise was meant to restructure salary scales and align jobs with responsibilities and qualifications.
However, the new grading system has triggered discontent in some sectors.
Nurses and other health workers have hinted on industrial action, saying the evaluation did not improve their working conditions and left them in lower grades than expected.
They argue that the exercise failed to address workload, staffing shortages and allowances.
With the bargaining season now approaching, unions are expected to table demands for substantial salary and pension reviews.
But the Government is on record saying any increases will have to be sustainable and aligned to fiscal capacity.
New Ziana
