The ultimatum expires at the end of the month.
The civil servants said they would embark on a job action should government fail to meet their demands.
They are demanding a salary of between US$500 and US$600 a month while the government is offering them US$230.
Govt unsettled
Information at hand shows that the government had been unsettled by the workers’ threats as it did not want a repeat of the 2008 era where job actions and strikes became the order of the day.
It was also revealed that the government viewed the threats as a test of its character, hence the need for a careful handling of the situation.
Sources in government said that if the coalition government failed to handle the civil servant’s crisis, its image would be dealt a severe blow.
The statements were further buttressed by a plea issued by deputy public service minister, Andrew Langa.
Langa told journalists recently: “It is our belief, as government, that the issue of threats will not take us anywhere. We appeal to workers to be patient with the government as we deliberate how best we can deal with their issue. We want to appeal to them (civil servants) to bear with the government for some time and we are sure the solution to that crisis will be found.
He highlighted that the public service ministry had taken the civil servants’ crisis to the three principals who were expected to make a pronouncement of what course would be taken to resolve the crisis.
“The minister (Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro) will table the issue with the three principals and we shall make public the outcome of the discussions,” Langa added.
Recently, Finance minister, Tendai Biti said government had already concluded the issue of civil servants salaries.
Treasury stumped
He said his ministry had allocated US$600 million from the 2010 budget to cover the said salaries.
The budget allocation has since been approved by parliament.
This, however, puts the government in a quandary as the treasury can no longer release more funds to foot the salary bill without approval of parliament.
The House of Assembly, sources said, was disempowered to approve budgets outside the framework of the national budget or supplementary budget announced by the finance minister.
Should this happen, the inclusive government runs the risk of falling into trap of the then Zanu (PF) administration which stands accused of reckless use of taxpayer’s money.
Post published in: News