- Govt to give cushioning allowance to its employees
- Allowances to be determined by seniority
- Allowances a relief to those paying fees
GOVERNMENT on Monday said it will give civil servants a once-off cushioning allowance for the month of January as it moves to combat economic challenges faced by its employees.
“Treasury notes the government decision to cushion members of the public services from the adverse economic challenges through the awarding of interim cushioning allowances for January 2020,” read the statement.
The Finance ministry said it had agreed that the cushioning allowance be ZWL800 and ZWL400 for the highest and least paid worker, respectively.
“What this implies is that those occupying top positions will also receive higher cushions,” a government source who refused to be identified said.
The government’s decision to award cushioning allowances to its workers follows the realisation that it could soon find itself embroiled in tense labour disagreements with its workers.
In its country visit to Zimbabwe in August last year, the International Monetary Fund warned Treasury against over-expenditure, saying the country risked missing its Staff Monitored Programme targets.
Meanwhile, Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said teachers were already spoiling for a fight, adding that no school would re-open unless their grievances were attended to.
However, school children have since started going back to school, with authorities said to be sending some back home for not having paid this term’s tuition.
Meanwhile, cushioning allowances are a recent phenomenon in Zimbabwe, with government and other employers forced to offer them as mitigation to their workers as the economy continues to deteriorate.
Cushioning allowances will also come as a relief to parents and guardians with school-going children.
