Government signals April salary increase for civil servants amid wage talks

Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Edgar Moyo

HARARE – The Zimbabwean government says it is finalising plans to implement a long-awaited salary increase for civil servants starting in April, with negotiations expected to conclude within days.

Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Edgar Moyo said authorities are engaging worker representatives through the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) to agree on the final package.

Speaking on the sidelines of a National Social Security Authority (NSSA) engineers’ workshop in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Moyo acknowledged delays but insisted progress was now being made.

“We all expect that something should have happened; there were delayed processes here and there, but I want to assure the nation that we are actively working on that,” he said.

Moyo said a crucial NJNC meeting would take place within days, where government and labour unions are expected to settle outstanding issues.

“Within a day or two, there is going to be a National Joint Negotiating Council meeting where these matters are going to be discussed, and hopefully they are going to be concluded,” he said. “The Government is active on the matter, and an agreement will be made once the workers have put in their demand and the Government has made their offer.”

He described the process as a balancing act between worker expectations and government capacity.

“Naturally, workers will demand as much as they want and employers will pay as much as they can afford,” Moyo said.

While confirming that an adjustment is imminent, Moyo did not disclose the proposed salary figures, saying details would only be made public after negotiations are finalised. Civil servants can, however, expect the new pay structure to take effect in April if talks conclude successfully.

The anticipated increase comes after nearly two years without a salary review for public sector workers, whose earnings have been eroded by inflation and rising living costs. Unions have repeatedly argued that current wages remain below pre-October 2018 levels in real terms, making it difficult for workers to meet basic expenses such as transport, housing and food. Labour analysts say the outcome of the negotiations will be critical in easing tensions across the public sector, where calls for industrial action have been growing.

The government’s move comes amid mounting pressure from unions, including the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, which has already signalled possible strike action over low wages and poor working conditions. Health workers have also raised similar concerns, raising the risk of coordinated industrial action if salary negotiations fail to meet expectations.

With talks entering a decisive phase, attention now shifts to whether government and unions can reach a compromise that addresses workers’ concerns while remaining fiscally sustainable. For many civil servants, the April timeline offers cautious hope, but the real test will be in the figures agreed at the negotiating table.

Zimbabwe civil servants salary increase