Civil servants welcome new pay structure
WORKERS representatives have commended the Government’s commitment to pay civil
servants according to their academic qualifications, experience and seniority starting
this month, saying implementing the new policy will increase motivation and
productivity.
Under the new policy, a civil servant, while remaining a teacher or a nurse or some other
occupation, will be getting pay rises as they obtain higher qualifications, and as they
increase their years of service and so their experience.
Both usually see civil servants being able to be more productive and more skilled, and the
proper notching of salaries reflects this with better pay.
The number of promotion posts is exceptionally limited in many civil service areas, since
they are hired for a job with minimal supervision.
The abandonment of advancement procedures for civil servants in 2012, paying just for
the job without the extra for advanced qualifications, seniority and greater experience,
resulted in the “bunching” of salaries in every grade, with the experienced teacher, for
example, getting the same as the newcomer.
This irked most civil servants’ unions, mainly in the education sector.
They argued that the salary difference between grades was insignificant and resulted in
many members being reluctant to upgrade their own educational qualifications and
making it harder to retain that vital segment of staff who had a great deal of experience
and were, to be blunt, better than those without.
Apex Council chairperson Ms Cecilia Alexander said the new pay structure was a welcome
development meant to motivate employees.
“This was part of the agreement we made last year with the Government as workers’
representatives. Workers should be awarded according to their level of education as well
as seniority within their work place. There is a need to award long serving employees,
who used to receive notches which is an incentive for their dedication to work,” said Ms
Alexander.
She said the private sector awards long-serving employees as part of incentivising them,
recognition of their loyalty to the organisation so they stay in post, as well as their
general ability to use their honed skills more productively.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enoch Dongo weighed in saying it was long
overdue. He commended the Second Republic and President Mnangagwa for walking the
talk in implementing what worker’s representatives were bargaining for.
“We want to thank the Government for that and the President for implementing that
long standing issue which was last done in 2012. It is important to pay workers according
to their qualifications and seniority since it will increase production and it also motivates
workers. The move is also in line with Vision 2030 to achieve an upper middle income
economy.
“Civil servants implement Government policies, once they are rewarded we are rest
assured work will be done.”
The move taken by the Government, Mr Dongo said, will improve the quality of work and
instil discipline among workers.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZTA) president Mr Richard Gundani said the new
structure was one of fundamental rights enshrined in the conditions of service.
“This gives meaning to promotion and seniority. Performance needs to be rewarded
always. This used to be done when class teachers used to be promoted using that
criterion. We welcome the development and urge the Government to do it in earnest and
in consultation with the concerned unions,” he said.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe’s secretary general Mr Raymond Majongwe
said: “As far as we are concerned it’s a positive development. It’s now time for
implementation, that’s what we have agreed at the National Joint Negotiating Council”.
Public Service Commission Secretary Dr Tsitsi Choruma said the advancement policy will
start to be operational this month.
“Following engagements in the context of the National Joint Negotiating Council,
Government resolved to reactivate the advancement of all civil servants in terms of the
applicable advancement procedures.
“Accordingly, the Public Service Commission embarked on and finalised the placement
of all civil servants in their respective grades by the end of December 2022.
“All civil servants will, therefore, be paid the salaries that reflect their advancement and
placement within their grades with effect from January 2023.”
To ensure no beneficiaries are left behind, Dr Choruma said, the PSC has since directed
heads of line ministries to gather all relevant documents or higher qualifications from
workers under their purview until the end of the first quarter of this year.
“In pursuit of the foregoing, all the heads of line ministries are implored to submit all
relevant higher qualifications obtained by civil servants under their ministries and
departments to the Public Service Commission to facilitate the completion of the
advancement exercise by March 31, 2023.”
She said the reactivation is in line with the Principal Procedures in the Public Service
2018.
“According to the Principal Procedures, advancement is the vertical movement of
employees within their grades after a given number of years of service, the
demonstration of satisfactory performance and/or acquisition of specified or relevant
qualifications.”
Civil servants’ union leaders lauded the latest development, saying it was long overdue.-The Herald
