Paul Nyathi

Government has immediately dumped a 40 percent Cost Of Living Adjustment on its workers in a desperate bid to try a get striking teachers back at work.

Teachers have not reported for duty since Monday when schools reopened due to some contentious issues with their employer, the goverment.

The schools were shut down in March due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Government had set September 14 and Sept. 28 as the opening dates for British-run Cambridge and locally run Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examination classes respectively.

It also set Dec. 1, 2020, as the date for commencement of ZIMSEC public examinations.

Private Schools offering Cambridge examinations, commenced classes smoothly last week.

In a joint statement the teacher unions requested for an urgent meeting with government to resolve contentious issues before schools reopen but the effort failed.

The teacher unions demanded restoration of their salaries to US$520 per month, payment of a COVID-19 allowance and more time for teachers and learners to cover syllabi before examinations, among other demands.

Government has however gone ahead and effected the cost of living adjustment without engaging the unions on it.

The latest 40 percent cost-of-living salary adjustment will be paid into the bank accounts of civil servants starting today.

The adjustment, and the continuation of the US$75 a month Covid-19 allowance, are interim steps taken by the Government to help cushion its employees while the negotiations are in progress.

“The Government would continue negotiating an agreement in good faith,” Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said yesterday.

“Normally, Government does not effect salary adjustments without a signed agreement, but we have had to go out of our way to cushion our dedicated workers.

“Government has had a long history of negotiating with its workers in good faith and increases negotiated should not work against the stability that has been achieved on the financial markets and price stability as this will fuel inflation again and erode the gains we have achieved,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, Minister Mutsvangwa has clarified the issue of Covid-19 testing at the ports of entry.

“In order to facilitate faster and easier discharge of returnees, it was decided that those travellers who presented Covid-19 free certificates issued 48 hours from departure would be discharged for self-quarantine.

“However, those travellers who displayed Covid-19 symptoms regardless of having a valid Covid-19 free certificate will have to be tested at ports of entry, along with those who do not have Covid-19 certificates.

“The cost of this testing, which is US$60, will be borne by the traveller,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

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