Employers Say They Cannot Pay Wages In Forex

The Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) says it is unrealistic to expect all employers to pay their workers in foreign currency (forex).

EMCOZ president, Israel Murefu said some employers have a higher foreign currency generating capacity in the form of US dollars by virtue of being exporters while others generate all their revenue in Zimbabwe dollars.

Speaking to NewZimbabwe.com Business on Thursday, Murefu said it is up to the employer to decide to pay a proportion of salaries in forex if they are able to do so. He said:

So, their US dollar trades are not as high or as significant as the trades in Zimbabwean dollars. Therefore, it is up to each employer depending on their capacity to decide to pay a proportion of salaries in US dollars if they have got the foreign currency.

This comes after the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has declared a deadlock at the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF) over the matter and urged workers to stage lunch hour protests at their workplaces to demand salaries in forex.

Murefu, however, dismissed claims that there has been a deadlock at the TNF over the US dollar salary issue, calling it a difference of opinion.

More: NewZimbabwe.com