Public Service Commission (PSC) Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe has said
families of civil servants who succumb to Covid-19, if infected in the line of duty, will be given a full year’s salary along with the normal benefits payable to the family of a deceased civil servant.

He said treasury would continue paying the salaries of the deceased to their dependants for 12 months.

Government continues to prioritise frontline workers who have kept the nation on its wheels despite the danger posed by the pandemic.

“Government has committed to pay civil servants salaries for a further 12 months if they succumb to the effects of Covid-19 after contracting the virus in the line of duty. There are normal benefits they are entitled to for their years of service. Nothing has changed; they will get that one. But the extra remuneration for a further 12 months will be advanced to their families by the Government.

“There is normal coverage of the medical expenses for all civil servants and we are also taking care of the medical expenses for frontline workers. That still stands,” he said.

Ambassador Wutawunashe outlined a number of benefits extended to civil servants, saying the Government was still committed to what it promised.

“We have adjusted a lot of things to protect our workers, such as for how long can you be ill and still be paid a full salary. It has been adjusted from 90 days to 180 days. We have also said that at any one time we should have at least 15 percent of the workers reporting for duty at their work stations,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.

He gave an update on the issue of civil servants’ salary negotiations that were scheduled to be concluded next month after delays caused by Covid-19 restrictions.- state media