Zim teachers in salary demand

2009-01-09 21:51

Johannesburg - Teachers in Zimbabwe have demanded an unprecedented salary of $2 300 a month, the Bulawayo Chronicle reported on Friday.

This was several times what teachers in private and mission schools would receive, if foreign currency fees were approved, the newspaper said.

The salary demand by civil service teachers was above the regional average considering that a secondary school teacher earns around $1 300 a month in South Africa, the newspaper said.

Mission and private schools in Zimbabwe have applied to charge fees in foreign currency and it was understood that governors of mission schools were looking at an allowance of around $300 a month in addition to the civil service salaries and free housing while governors of private schools are looking at about twice that figure, the Chronicle said.

"The teachers' demand comes in the wake of calls by the Public Service Association to have all civil servants paid in foreign currency to enable them to access basic commodities, pay rent and afford transport to work."

The Chronicle quoted Public Service Association president Cecilia Alexander as saying workers were no longer able to continue to report for duty on empty stomachs, walk long distances to work and could not earn a living with Zimbabwean dollars when the market was demanding foreign currency.

"We therefore demand that civil servants be paid in foreign currency like what is happening in the private sector with effect from the beginning of January as this is not only the ideal but the correct thing to do," the newspaper quoted her as saying.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association told the newspaper that teachers were preparing to enter negotiations with the government over the issue.

- SAPA