By Staff Writer
THE Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) seeks to get clarity on the directive to turn the US$300 Covid19 allowance into a pensionable salary on the back of rising pressures to effect salary increments.
The Covid19 Allowance was effected to cushion civil servants from hardships and expenses arising associated with the pandemic.
Over the years, the allowance has steadily risen and with the slowdown of the Covid19 pandemic, Finance Minister, Mthui Ncube announced the directive to transform the allowance into a taxable salary.
Critics condemned the move arguing it was a ploy by the Treasury chief to short change the underpaid civil servants.
In a statement , ZCPSTU agreed to get finer details on the policy directive whose implications remain unknown.
“All ZCPSTU Federations met Tuesday 09 January 2024 to deliberate on the important issue of salaries and conditions of service talks for first quarter of 2024.
“We also resolved to convene an urgent meeting with the employer to clarify the implications of the transition from a ZWL to a US$ pensionable salary,” a communique released by the federation says.
The federation now intends to know whether the ZWL will now become the allowance that should cater for transport, housing (rentals) and school fees as well as its impact on the pensioners.
The labour group is also pushing for a guarantee for the 2024 bonus payments to be made as per tradition well ahead of time. ZCPSTU called for the diarisation of negotiation meeting schedules for 2024 much earlier.
“It should be agreed that there will be quarterly reviews with a view to achieve our target to restore salaries to October 2018 levels in terms of real value.
“It is therefore hereto agreed by ZCPSTU member federations that there be urgent talks with the employer in order to foster harmony at the work place and enhance better service delivery in our institutions,” the group added.
