By Own Correspondent

ZIMBABWE Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has slammed the 2022 anti -workers budget saying it falls far short of uplifting the plight of workers in the country.

Speaking during the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD)  post budget breakfast meeting held in the capital recently, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union secretary-general, Japhet Moyo said workers were earning below the poverty datum line, resulting in them falling short of the monthly family basket pegged at $42 700.

“What is startling is that, despite the fact that the workers are among those earning the least in the region, the cost of the monthly basket is highest in the region. Even commodities that are produced locally are expensive compared to those imported from other countries.

“The workers have always presented this at the negotiating table, but the employers have not taken heed of the concern. Government does not want to be compared with other countries. The fact is that our economy is underperforming, resulting in the government failing to pay decent salaries to its workers,” he said.

The poor salary situation is being experienced at a time when an economic growth projection of 7,8% for the year 2021 with experts saying the growth projection in the budget statement builds confidence that Zimbabwe’s economy is among the high performers under difficult COVID-19 conditions and well above the 3,4% average growth for sub-Saharan Africa.

But nevertheless, the workers including civil servants have endured years of poor salaries as the government declines to effect meaningful salary increments.

The International Trade Union Confederation global rights index (2021) states that Zimbabwe is among the top 10 worst violators of workers’ rights.