With 132% Inflation, Civil Servants Reject 100% Pay Rise, Demand US$840 Per Month
Civil servants have rejected an offer for a 100% pay increase from the government during a National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting held in Harare on Friday, 17 June 2022.
The NJNC brings together government representatives and the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) to deliberate on issues to do with the working conditions of public servants.
In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, ZCPSTU said workers “flatly rejected” the Government’s offer to double their pay.
Civil servants demand that the lowest-paid worker get US$840 a month, up from their current salary of ZWL$18 000 or US$53.
Alternatively, they want a hybrid paycheck that includes a mix of US dollars and Zimbabwe dollars.
Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate jumped to 132%, the highest level in a year in May as food prices rose drastically.
The drop in the value of the local currency and rising inflation have increased demand by workers and businesses for payments in US dollars, putting further pressure on the Zimbabwe dollar.
Speaking on ZTN Prime on Friday evening, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima confirmed that civil servants had rejected a 100% increase on the Zimbabwe dollar component of their salaries.
Mavima said the Government will consider whether to improve on the offer it has tabled or not.
He, however, said the US$100 salary component and the US$75 COVID-19 allowance will remain in place.
Civil servants will still get a 100% pay rise even if the two parties fail to break their current deadlock.
Mavima said civil servants should be realistic in their demands as the Government has other obligations besides the wage bill.
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