By Own Correspondent

ZIMBABWE Congress of Trade Unions has expressed displeasure over the continued implementation of unyielding economic policies by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

Speaking exclusively to The Worker, ZCTU secretary general, Japhet Moyo said the economic reform agenda has instead presided over the sinking of millions of workers into hardships.

“ It boggles the mind to note that the Minister and his austerity for prosperity policies have impacted negatively on the poor including the workers. The Transitional Stabilisation Policy (TSP) led to huge cutbacks in welfare expenditure while at the same time compressing workers earnings. This in turn complicated hardships as health and education facilities went beyond the reach of many,” he said.

He said the subsequent de-dollarisation of the economy through Statutory Instrument 142/ 2019 reduced workers salaries from an average of US$500 equivalent ZW$500 and coupled with the introduction of the 2% tax, workers and citizens endured wage theft.

“Remember the economy didn't have cash and all transactions were done on mobile platforms that then attracted the levy of 2% on every dollar transacted. The banks also hiked charges while fuel in local currency disappeared.

“Even as inflation soured to reach 300 % by September 2019, salaries were not adjusted accordingly to match the erosion, as they remained static.

“A similar trend has been sustained since then, as we see that even after allowing  businesses to charge for their goods and services in prices rated against the US$ and direct US$ payments, no corresponding policies have been effected on workers salaries,” he said.

The concerns come against a background where the leading labour federation has described the government's move to pay civil servants US$ bonuses as “insensitive” and “short lived'' threatening to implement unspecified action if a directive to pay all salaries in US$ is not issued.