Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) and the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) have approached Government demanding to be paid in United States dollars.
Zina general secretary Mr Enock Dongo said they want to be paid in United States dollars because some shops are not accepting any other form of payment. He also called on Government to adopt flexible duties to reduce transport costs. Said Dongo:
We demand that our salaries be paid in United States dollars since some shops are not accepting any other form of payment. We also call on the government to adopt flexible duties for the nurses. For example, nurses can work from 7AM to 7PM working shifts for three days a week instead of the current 7AM to 4PM for five days a week to mitigate increased transport costs.
Zimta secretary general Mr Tapson Nganunu Sibanda said they want to be paid in foreign currency following the price increases. Speaking to The Chronicle yesterday, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Sekai Nzenza yesterday Government is engaging unions and a labour office to find a way forward.
More: Chronicle
Gvt should be sensitive to the plight of its patriotic servants and give an ear to their genuine concerns. Honestly how do you expect a teacher to be presentable and confident infront of learners when his pay cannot buy a pair of shoes which are pegged in US dollars and he is earning Bond notes in RTGS which cant even afford him a decent lunch to say the least. The gvt should not wait for confrontations and demonstrations to correct these issues. Pay your workers in US dollars, you can start even from 300 dollars its actually better than these 600 to 1000 bond notes and rtgs which you claim are 1:1 with USD, a claim that u actually know is not true. Please feel for yo pple.