By Own Correspondent| Government has revealed plans to set in motion a process to convene a special meeting with worker representatives to negotiate the issues raised by civil servants regarding their remuneration.

Last week the government met with representatives from the Apex Council but the talks did not yield any fruit as they ended in a stalemate.

In a statement, Public Commission Secretary, Jonathan Wutawunashe said:

“The forum has assisted in creating industrial harmony in the civil service and Government places great importance to this process. The workers presented a set of matters for discussion and Government recognises these and commits itself to consultations on an ongoing basis to address them.

Aware of the challenges that the workers are facing as a result of a number of price distortions arising from and bordering on criminal activities, Government has set in motion a process to convene a special meeting with the worker representatives.

This platform will formalise ongoing arrangements to engage the workers in order to address the issues that they have raised in an integrated and comprehensive manner.”

The Apex Council president, Cecilia Alexander bemoaned the increase in the prices of good and called on the government to raise the salaries of civil servants.

Said, Alexander:

“Prices have increased, however, our salaries have remained the same. We want our salaries adjusted in line with the current prices.

We also want the Government to look at the five per cent gap that is between teachers and the rest of civil servants. When we got a 17,5 per cent salary increase, others were given a 22,5 per cent increase. We want that gap to be bridged.

As you can see the budget was silent about the welfare of the civil servants and we would want the Government to come up with a mechanism that will cushion civil servants from the high prices.”-StateMedia