Civil servants yesterday started receiving a cushioning allowance, while the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) convened a meeting to discuss an increment and other conditions of service for Government workers.

Members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) received salaries adjusted with the cushion allowance, while other members of the civil service are expected to get theirs on their scheduled pay dates.

Those who spoke to The Herald yesterday said they received an adjustment which ranged from around 40 percent of their usual salaries.

This dovetails with an assurance by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube that civil servants will have an increment with effect from this month.

The NJNC, which brings together representatives of Government workers under the Apex Council and those representing the Government, held a marathon meeting yesterday to discuss conditions of service.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said an agreement on the real salary increment should be reached by Wednesday.

“The NJNC will continue negotiations tomorrow (today). There should be an outcome by tomorrow or Wednesday,” she said.

In an interview, Apex Council president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said the meeting was aimed at affording them feedback following the proposal they submitted on conditions of service for civil servants could be improved.State media