Civil servants to know their fate on Wednesday

Civil servants will know their fate on Wednesday when the government and their representatives meet to negotiate their new salary structure.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche said the government would be responding to the position paper of civil servants’ representatives when they meet.

“We have our position as government and we will first reveal that position, what we have to offer and negotiate from,” Goche said according to The Herald.

Civil servants are demanding a minimum wage of US$547 a month which is in line with the current poverty datum line.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said in his 2014 budget that the government will raise the salaries of civil servants to the current poverty datum line but this would be staggered to leave room for continued funding of government operations.

The government will also improve the welfare of civil servants through the provision of non-monetary benefits in such areas as housing.

The Movement for Democratic Change yesterday called for fresh elections saying the government had failed to turn around the country’s economy and to address the issue of civil servants’ salaries.

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