By Sharon Tawuya
Bulawayo, (New Ziana) -The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Edgar Moyo has accepted that salaries for civil servants are low, and funds should be set aside in the 2027 National Budget to review them upwards.
He was responding to comments by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Publiv, Labour and Social Welfare Taurai Malinganiso, who had said civil servants who are the backbone of the country, continue to earn little and should share the dividends of a booming economy.
Moyo said the government will continue to engage through the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) and will clear outstanding Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) payments owed to schools.
He said NSSA pensions were increased by 25 percent to US$90 and US$70 minimum, with a further increase due in November.
“Salaries must be improved. If the economy is booming, public workers should also share the dividends. The lowest paid worker is getting US$370 plus ZiG 250, which is still lagging behind,” Malinganiso said.
He said the Treasury condition that salaries should not exceed 50 percent of revenue is constraining pay, yet the wage bill is under 25 percent, and the Committee wants it raised to 40 percent.
Malinganiso noted that the Ministry was allocated ZiG 4.9 billion this year but carries arrears of ZiG 7.8 billion, while the 2027 ceiling of ZiG 21 billion will leave an effective ZiG 0.4 billion once debt is considered, adding cash releases were at 90 percent for Programme 1 and 80 percent for Programme 2.
He said the Public Service Commission was allocated ZiG 229 million last year with only 34.1 percent released, and this year requires ZiG 25 million against ZiG 24 million debt.
The Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) needs ZiG 271 million for its operations and programs.
New Ziana
New Ziana
