THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) workers are up in arms with management over obscure salary structures after senior executives reportedly awarded themselves a 47,27% salary hike which amounts to 26,6% higher than the government-approved adjustment.
NQOBILE BHEBHE CHIEF REPORTER
The ZEC workers’ committee has now demanded an urgent salary meeting with the electoral body’s top management headed by Justice Rita Makarau.
According to correspondence dated May 8, the workers’ committee complained about the increments which saw low ranked officials getting adjustments that are 26,6% lower than government-sanctioned increments.
“The workers’ committee hereby writes to request your office to facilitate the convening of an urgent workers’ council meeting to deliberate on the 2014 salary increases.
“The workers’ committee would need further explanation on the increases as requested in our meeting with the chairperson Justice Makarau on April 24 2014,” reads part of the letter addressed to chief electoral officer Lovemore Sekeramayi.
The workers’ committee pointed out that it was patently unfair that the highest benefactors of the increase got 47,27% while the lowest increase got 14,03%.
“It is also noted from the schedule that ZEC proceeded to increase housing allowances for employers in the selected higher grades,” the workers’ committee complained.
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According to a salary schedule seen by Southern Eye, ZEC’s 442 employees are graded into 13 categories, but salary structures for the top three grades do not reflect any figures.
The salary schedule indicates that there are 18 employees in Grade 4 earning $366 per month and the adjustment increases it to $539 before factoring in allowances.
In total the 18 officials in Grade 4 account for $13 698 per month.
Grades 4 and 5 are said to have got increments which are more than the 26,6% prescribed by the government.
However, from Grade 6 to 13, the increments ranged from 28,77% to 17,33%. These, the workers’ committee argued is 26,6% lower than what the increase the government approved.
Grade 13 workers earn $264 per month before allowances of $66 (transport), and $91 (housing) adding up to $421.
Based on the schedule, ZEC’s Grade 4-13 employees gobble up $143 549 in salaries and allowances a month.
