Zimbabwe’s government has increased the salaries of its 140 000 workers by 300%, half of the workers’ original demands, a Cabinet minister and union officials announced on Wednesday.
”We had wanted 600%, but we got 300%, which is obviously an achievement in a negotiation process,” said the secretary general of the Public Services Association (PSA), Emmanuel Chiviru.
”We have accepted it but we will soon engage government because the prices of commodities have recently started going up,” he said.
Government workers had in January asked for a 600% pay hike to match inflation levels, but the government rejected the demand.
The workers were in January offered a 250% pay increase, but they turned it down, insisting on 600%.
An arbitrator engaged to help resolve the dispute settled for a 300% rise.
”Government has agreed with the arbitrator’s decision that a 50% wage increase be granted to the civil servants as a top-up of the 250% which was granted in January to bring it up to 300%,” said Labour Minister Paul Mangwana.
In addition to the pay hikes, the government increased transport allowances, while housing allowances have been raised 100%.
In March, the government granted President Robert Mugabe a 350% pay hike, which saw his annual salary climb from from Z$20,2-million a year to Z$73,7-million. — Sapa-AFP