THE opposition MDC-T has rapped government for shortchanging civil servants by unilaterally making pension deductions on their December salaries without consultation.
By Silas Nkala
MDC-T Bulawayo deputy spokesperson, Felix Magalela Sibanda described the pensions deductions on civil servants’ salaries as unlawful.
“MDC-T condemns the way it has been done by the Zanu PF administration of late,” he said.
“According to the Labour Relations Act, no deductions should be effected without prior consultation and agreement with the concerned workers or industry. Having noted the principle argument, we further provide consultation evidence that the government action is arbitrary and, therefore, illegal or unlawful, to say the least.”
Sibanda said there were contradictions in the Labour Act section 3 of the same proclamations that the Labour Act applies to all employers and employees except those governed by the Public Service Act.
“Further, section 2 (3) of the Labour Act gives its supremacy over any other Acts. The same Act clearly ousts itself from covering uniformed forces, but not the rest of civil servants,” he said. “So I argue that indeed there are covered by the Labour Act. The Public Service Act just talks of the civil service conditions, but does not have powers to oust any good labour practices bestowed on government.”
Sibanda accused civil servants’ unions of remaining silent over the issue and allowing the Zanu PF government to politically patronise them.
