By Staff Reporter
The Government has directed that civil servants be awarded a 20 percent local currency salary increment, backdated to January this year, coupled with US$100 per month in hard currency with effect from the 1st of next month.
In a statement, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said “This will be done through the conversion of a corresponding Zimbabwe dollar salary amount into hard currency, bringing the foreign currency amount to USD175.”
The finance ministry also said “The introduction of an advancement award, which recognises seniority, for differentiation within the same grade will be implemented across the entire civil service sector”.
Other non-monetary benefits announced include:
1. Payment of school fees for up to three biological children per teaching family, with an upper limit of ZWL$20 000 per child per term, paid directly to the school:
2. Construction of 34 000 housing units (125 blocks of flats) over a five-year period as institutional accommodation including critical amenities, for teachers within the school premises
3. Implementation of a housing loan guarantee scheme to facilitate home ownership by civil servants;
4. Provision of a transport facility to ferry teachers in both rural and urban areas;
5. Teachers to import vehicles duty-free but not to dispose of them before the expiry of three years.
The Government also said it remains committed to improving the conditions of service for teachers and the entire civil service, as the economy improves.
