Representatives of Zimbabwean civil servants and government officials failed to agree on proposals for increased wages for state workers in keeping with a promise earlier this year by President Robert Mugabe that wages of the lowest-paid would rise this month.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association Chief Executive Sifiso Ndlovu said a meeting Wednesday attended by the Apex Council, which negotiates on behalf of state employees, and budget and civil service authorities, ended without any tangible results.
Ndlovu said Finance Ministry officials told the meeting that government is looking into their demands for an increase in salaries to US$500 from around US$200 currently and that any increase will be reflected in the mid-term fiscal review due for release soon.
Ndlovu said civil servants are disappointed at the lack of progress in reviewing salaries.
"We hope that something will be worked out for civil servants who are anxiously waiting for a reasonable pay increase," Ndlovu told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube.
President Mugabe promised state workers two months ago to use his executive powers to force the government to increase salaries to US$250 for the lowest paid.
