HARARE — Civil servants have slammed government over its recent prouncement that bonuses will only be paid based on perfomance.
Unions say authorities are acting in bad faith, adding the move has left employees vulnerable to sexual exploitation at workplaces.
Secretary General for Zimbabwe National Educators Union, Charles Chinosengwa said government’s change of goalposts having previously committed to paying the 2022 bonuses to all civil servants,showed disrespect for the sector.
“We are shocked that the Public Service Commission is saying they want to pay bonuses as per performance. Looking at the fact that we are expecting bonuses next month, sexual harassment is highly likely as bosses cannot account for performance from the beginning of the year taking note that we are already in October. Everyone wants that bonus hence teachers are now at risk to do anything to get the performance appraisal,” he said.
Chinosengwa said civil servants have been working against welfare and financial odds for much of the year and further shrinking their 13th cheque for failing to meet the mark was immoral.
“The Public Service Commission are no longer consulting unions that represent workers first. They are just implementing. The Public Service Commission is above everyone right now and they are just doing what they want without consulting the workers,” he said.
“They are killing the education sector and they will see the fruits later in the same way they implemented the ‘no work, no pay’ which has hardened teachers as they are now reporting for work but not teaching,” he added.
Elsewhere, health worker expressed disgruntlement over the government’s announcement that the 2022 bonuses will be performance-based, saying they are failing to deliver due to poor working conditions in most public health institutions.
Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union Of Zimbabwe, Douglas Chikobvu said the government failed them by not addressing their working conditions which remained poor.
“We strongly feel that the government might try to get a scapegoat to undercharge us and avoid paying our bonuses decently. Above all, there is nothing to smile at given that most workers are wallowing in abject poverty courtesy of the government’s measly wages,” he said.
In a letter to Directors in the health sector, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Jasper Chimedza said that with effect from this year, bonuses will only be paid based on performance-based appraisals.
“It is advised that with effect from this year, 2022, the bonus will only be paid based on performance appraisal reports.
“Considering the foregoing, kindly ensure that all members of staff from the Deputy director level and below are appraised as per the standard requirements,” said Chimedza.
Labour Minister Paul Mavima has previously said there is nothing out of the ordinary in the system adopted by government this year adding that the principle of rewarding hard work is universal.
