GOVERNMENT is understood to be preparing a “meaningful
offer” for civil servants as it seeks to address the challenges they face of
high prices of goods and services.
The offer is set to be tabled during the next engagement of
the National Joint Negotiating Council, which is expected to meet in the near
future.
A top Government official close to the negotiations
confirmed to The Herald that indeed, a package that should go a long way in
cushioning civil servants has been decided.
“Government, taking its cue from its engagements with the
Apex Council, is preparing a meaningful offer to address hardships facing civil
servants for discussions during the next meeting of the National Joint
Negotiating Council to be convened soon,” said the source on condition of
anonymity.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai
Nzenza confirmed that the Government and the Apex Council, which represents
civil servants, will resume negotiations soon. But she declined to say the
figure that Government would table.
“The negotiations will start soon on civil servants
salaries. No figure (has been agreed) yet,” said Dr Nzenza.
Government is keen to improve the welfare of its employees
and is frantically working towards that since the start of the year, on the
back of a wave of unwarranted increases of prices of goods and services.
On July 18, Government and its workers held a National
Joint Negotiating Council meeting, where an agreement was reached to pay a
cushioning allowance of $400 to all civil servants to provide relief from the
harsh economic environment.
The cushioning allowance was extended as a once-off payment
for the month of July, while negotiations continued on a cost of living
adjustment (COLA), to further cushion civil servants for the remaining five
months of the year.
Government has previously indicated that beyond money, it
was keen to offer assistance to civil servants that focused on the “pain points”
such as transport by way of a heavily subsidised public transport system.
Government continues to commission more Zupco buses, with
the latest batch of 47 now on the road.
Further, Government is working on a housing scheme for
civil servants. A scheme is also being crafted to provide affordable medication
for all civil servants. Chronicle
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