BY OWN CORRESPONDENT

Government employees are up in arms with their employer over reduced earnings this month following the conversion of their USD allowances into taxable salaries this month.

Most civil servants received USD270-00 or less depending with their deductions from USD300-00.  The US$300 COVID-19 and cushioning allowances were previously not subjected to taxation.

Presenting the 2024 budget statement, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said the COVID-19 and cushioning allowance amounting to USD300-00 would be part of the pensionable emoluments across the board, effective January 2024, effectively reducing civil servant disposable incomes.

Some employees are now demanding that their forex earnings be restored to USD300-00 while others are demanding more to cushion themselves from the biting economic environment induced by inflation and the 2024 national budget taxes that have taken effect.

The Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) called for the restoration of the USD300-00.

“While the ZCPSTU appreciates the noble gesture by the employer to make the US$300 the salary, there is however an outcry from all public sector employees regards the new salary structure. It is the workers’ experience that the deductions on the USD have left them with inadequate disposable income constituting unfair labour practice on the part of the employer. It is a trite labour principle that an employee’s salary shall not be subject to reduction for any reason.,” said ZCPSTU’s Cecilia Alexander.

ZCPSTU said in the light of the above, it expected the employer to restore the workers’ take home to more than USD 300 without compromising the principle of USD as the salary.

Meanwhile some teachers unions are threatening to go on strike if their demand for a minimum salary of USD1260-00 is not met this January. The Amalgamated Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) and Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Union (FOZEU) have declared incapacitation, promising to either skip work in totality or attend and proceed on a go-slow.

In a statement released on January 10th, ARTUZ also criticized the government's lack of engagement with educators, particularly regarding their ongoing demand for a US$1260 salary.

"We vehemently condemn the government's reckless decision to open schools amidst the widespread cholera outbreak, completely disregarding the pressing concerns raised by parents and teachers," read the statement

"It is utterly disappointing to witness such a hasty move without even bothering to engage with the educators who have been tirelessly advocating for a just salary of US$1260.

"The safety and welfare of our students and teachers should be the utmost priority, but it seems that the government is callously neglecting this responsibility.

"It is high time for the government to prioritize the well-being of our education system and take meaningful action to address the urgent needs of our dedicated teachers," said ARTUZ.

On the other hand, FOZEU declared that the government should review salaries of teachers to a minimum of USD 1 260 per month by 22 January 2024.

“If the government fails to play ball, all unions affiliated to the Federation have resolved to mobilise their membership to completely withdraw their labour,” said FOZEU in a statement last week.