Workers' Representatives Demand Salaries In USD As "Everything Is Now Charged In USD"

Trade Unions have demanded that workers be paid salaries in United States Dollars as all their basic needs are now being charged in that currency.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) told the Daily News over the weekend that workers who were being paid in the rapidly depreciating local currency were, on the other hand, the consumers of commodities charged in foreign currency. ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo said:

Workers should be allowed to trade their labour in foreign currency as well, for the simple reason that they are the consumers of products and services sold in foreign currency.

His remarks were echoed by the secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Raymond Majongwe who said that the employer must at least pay workers between 50 and 75 per cent of their salaries in US dollars.

The president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Atuz), Obert Masaraure also concurred with the remarks above adding that paying workers in US dollars was the only logical thing to do.

These remarks are said when both the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Finance have indicated that there will be no turning back on de-dollarisation. Ironically, the government allowed the selling of fuel in foreign currency.

More: Daily News