Harare—Government workers in Zimbabwe will receive a salary increment, raising the wages of the lowest-paid employees from US$324 to US$364 per month, effective from September 1, 2024, according to the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU). The wage adjustment, announced after protracted negotiations between the government and civil servants’ representatives, amounts to a US$40 increase across the board for public workers from the grade of Deputy Director and below.
In a statement released by the ZCPSTU, the union noted that despite demands for a larger increase paid in US dollars to counteract the nation’s volatile exchange rates, the government was unable to meet these requests due to its financial obligations, including efforts to mitigate the effects of an ongoing El Niño-induced drought. The drought has severely impacted food security, leaving millions in need of aid.
“The initial offer of US$31 million, converted to local currency, was rejected by the workers as inadequate,” the union said. “However, the employer later increased the total to US$41 million, insisting that payments would be made in local currency at the prevailing bank rate.”
Despite the relatively modest increase, the union acknowledged the government’s financial constraints, citing lower-than-expected US dollar revenue inflows and its policy shift away from dollarization as reasons for the capped increment.
In addition to the salary review, the government also committed to paying civil servants their annual bonus in two parts, with disbursements scheduled for November and December 2024. Payment modalities for the bonus will be announced in due course, according to the ZCPSTU.
The union has called on the government to continue monitoring economic conditions closely and to consider further wage adjustments as necessary to protect public sector workers from inflationary pressures.
