FINANCE and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday said Government was seized with addressing salaries for civil servants and the issue will be solved in a few weeks’ time. The Government last week offered civil servants a 100 percent pay rise, in a move that will result in the least-paid worker taking home $2 033, up from $1 023 per month.

Civil servants will each get between $400 and $800, depending on grades, beginning today as a cushioning allowance for January.
However, civil servants rejected the offer.

They continued demanding that their salaries be pegged on the interbank rate, with the lowest-paid worker getting the equivalent of US$475 monthly.
Minister Ncube said Government had other pressing issues that required equal attention.

He said the issue included ensuring national food security, power generation, job creation and stabilising the local currency.

“We are negotiating with civil servants against the vagaries of inflation,” said Minister Ncube.

“Those negotiations are making progress. When negotiating there can be disagreements and that is normal. But we as the employer, we are going to make sure there is a decent salary for civil servants.
“We appreciate the work that they do and also we are going to honour that by this cushioning allowance. It is our expectation that we come to some agreement in the next few weeks so that we can move forward.”

Minister Ncube said the Government was going to repeat what happened last year when civil servants were awarded cushioning allowances and adjustments constantly.
“Last year we did it twice during the year,” he said.State media