By Own Correspondent

NEGOTIATIONS for a possible resolution to the impasse between civil servants’ representatives and the government are in limbo after failure to reach any concrete agreement.

This is despite the fact that the government offered a figure at the beginning of the talks , a figure which the civil servants representatives have turned down instead insisting on the initial US$540 – an amount previously paid during the Government of National Unity era as the starting point.

But it appears the government and the respective representatives are likely not to reach an agreement anytime soon – a reality which has since become the norm between the two negotiating sides.

This follows another impasse by the government and the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU), formerly Apex Council, after failing to reach agreement when they met in the capital last Friday..

ZCPSTU chairperson Cecilia Alexander said nothing tangible had come out of the agreement.

She refused to share much details on the matter at hand.

“We had negotiations with the government on July the 7th on Friday on the salary increment on both the US dollar and local currency components,” she said.

“However, the workers’ side acknowledged the offer, but asked the government team of negotiators to consult their principals for improvement in both US dollar and the Zimbabwe dollar component with the view to restore and improve value. The meeting is expected to reconvene in the shortest period,” the ZCPSTU statement said.

Sources who attended the meeting said government had tabled an increment of US$50 hard cash and the equivalent of less US$40 in local currency.

Civil servants are pushing government to increase their salaries to at least US$560 for the least paid employee.