New broad package to cushion civil servants
THE Government has unveiled a broad package to improve the welfare of public sector workers, which includes subsidised housing and a mechanism that indexes the local currency component of salaries to the exchange rate.
The authorities have committed to providing up to two million residential stands and high-rise flats to accommodate public sector workers by the end of this year.
To date, about one million stands have been allocated.
A joint technical committee, comprising officials from the Ministries of National Housing and Social Amenities; Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement; and Local Government and Public Works, as well as the Public Service Commission and workers’ representatives, has been established to expedite affordable housing projects.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said: “The committee is expected to develop a time-framed roadmap by the first quarter of 2025 towards tangible results for house delivery for public service employees. Addressing the housing needs of our public servants is a priority.
“This initiative will not only improve their quality of life but also enhance their overall well-being and productivity.”
Through the National Development Strategy 1, the Government is prioritising access to affordable and quality housing for civil servants in both urban and rural areas.
Several housing projects are underway across the country. They include the construction of 200 houses in Beitbridge under the Redevelopment Programme and the ongoing pilot project at Mutawatawa Growth Point in Mashonaland East province, where four of eight planned three-storey walk-up flats are under construction.
The project is expected to be completed by March this year.
Further, the Public Service Pension Fund is financing the construction of 19 F14 houses in Lupane and blocks of flats in Beitbridge and Marondera.
An F14 house is a type of Government-owned housing specifically built for civil servants.
The Government has also introduced a policy that sets a 10 percent quota in all housing projects for civil servants on a home-ownership basis.
Institutional housing in cantonment areas and regularisation of informal settlements across the country are expected to benefit a significant number of public servants.
Meanwhile, the Government has also indexed the local currency component of salaries to the exchange rate.
This measure, implemented since April 2024, is aimed at protecting public servants from the adverse effects of inflation caused by exchange rate fluctuations.
“Since April 2024, public servants have benefited from this cushioning effect,” said Minister Moyo.
The Government is similarly prioritising non-monetary incentives.
Joint committees comprising the Government and workers’ representatives are exploring options such as improved transport allowances and enhanced duty rebates on imported vehicles.
Additionally, a US$40 salary increase, payable in the local currency, has been implemented to mitigate the impact of recent inflation.
“This increase demonstrates our commitment to cushioning our employees from the effects of inflation,” he added.
Job evaluation
A comprehensive job evaluation, he said, is nearing completion, with recommendations expected to streamline compensation frameworks, eliminate inefficiencies in job categorisation and ensure fair remuneration for core job categories.
“The implementation of the job evaluation exercise recommendation will go a long way in implementing a compensation framework that appropriately rewards specific job categories, as well as ensuring unnecessary waste in manning levels and job categorisation is eliminated, thus leading to improved compensation for identified core job categories.”
The Government is also investing in the continuous professional development of public servants through the establishment of the Public Service Academy (PSA), which comprises 14 training campuses nationwide.
“The PSA capacitates civil servants with requisite skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for supporting the achievement of Vision 2030,” said Minister Moyo.
“Furthermore, the PSA has partnered with various professional boards and stakeholders in strengthening this professional development.”
A dedicated unit has also been established to assist public sector workers with retirement planning.
“To achieve this, the department equips members with essential life skills, empowering them to thrive in retirement.”
Other aspects of public service welfare, including the development of a comprehensive public service funeral assurance policy to provide substantial coverage for public servants and their families, are being addressed.
The Government is expanding its fleet of public service vehicles and streamlining the process of obtaining duty rebates on imported vehicles.
“We believe these measures will not only enhance employee satisfaction but also contribute to a more efficient and productive public service,” Minister Moyo said. Sunday News