Restless civil servants have called on government to make sure they receive their bonuses in full, adding that authorities should not stagger the 13th cheque like what happened last year.
Government announced recently that it was ready to pay bonuses to civil servants, but it has remained mum on how they are going to be paid amid reports that payment will be staggered.
The civil servants have also requested government to deal with some of the outstanding issues agreed on to improve their working conditions.
Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) chairperson Cecilia Alexander yesterday told NewsDay that they wrote to the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) last week calling for an emergency meeting on bonus issues.
“We wrote a letter to the NJNC for an emergency meeting to deliberate on several issues and outstanding matters related to the third quarter. Of course, we are now in the fourth quarter,” she said.
“In the letter, we identified our proposed agenda. One of them is to discuss the 2023 bonus and modalities. We wrote to NJNC since they are our chief negotiator with the government. We want to appreciate what government is going to pay us.”
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said this year’s bonus should not be staggered.
“We are still in the dark on how we are going to be paid. The second republic has consistently demonstrated a disregard for the welfare of the workers, attempting to cut expenditure at the expense of hardworking individuals.
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“Now that we are through with the election season, we demand a new governance culture that prioritise the rights and well-being of workers,” he said.
“We firmly assert that the bonus in 2023 must be paid in a single month without staggered disbursement. The government must ensure that the bonus is provided as a once-off payment to allow teachers to adequately prepare for the festive season,” he said.
Educators Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Tapedza Zhou said they were waiting for an update from the government.
“We have worked very hard during the year now we are hoping for our bonus but at the moment, we don’t know how we are going to be paid, for the last few years the government has been staggering the bonus payments,” he said
The civil servants are demanding at least 100% bonus in both foreign and local currency.
The ZCPSTU, formerly Apex Council, has been pushing for a US$540 salary for the least paid employee.
Government and civil servants have been engaged in endless battles over salary and working condition issues with workers demanding US$540 salary which is the pre-October 2019 salary.
Government and representatives of the civil servants met in the capital last week but failed to reach an agreement on various issues.
