GOVERNMENT yesterday said it had not yet ruled out the possibility of paying civil servants’ salaries in United States dollars citing the current US$175 incentive as evidence of its willingness to meet workers’ demands.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube told journalists after a post-Cabinet briefing that discussions between government and civil servants were still ongoing.
“I cannot comment on ongoing negotiations and details between civil servants and government as yet. As the government, we are sensitive to the plight of all the civil servants and we will do whatever we can to make sure we can accommodate the demands, obviously within the budgetary constraints we face,” he said.
“As you know, the government is offering US$175. So on that part, we have already shown we are willing to make sure that part of the salaries is in United States dollars, but as to the recent request from civil servants, all those things are under consideration, under discussion.”
Ncube made the remarks as nurses and teachers yesterday continued with their protests demanding United States dollar salaries and improved working conditions.
Civil servants have rejected a 100% government wage increase with effect from July 1. At Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, nurses and doctors gathered outside, with police observing them from a distance.