TEACHERS are seeking the intervention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in their ongoing labour dispute with the government over working conditions and salaries.
The educators said they approached ILO after submitting a petition and getting no joy from their employer including President Emmerson Mnangagwa over a basket of grievances.
In May, unions representing teachers petitioned the Finance ministry as well as the Public Service Commission (PSC) demanding a formal response to their grievances.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) had submitted a similar petition before the schools opened.
The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) later sent a delegation to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office requesting his intervention in the resolution of their grievances and various challenges bedevilling the education sector.
The PTUZ delegation did not meet Mnangagwa, it submitted a petition in which it warned the President that the education system was crumbling under his watch.
Teachers are decrying low salaries and are demanding to be paid at least US$540 per month by their employer, which they were earning before October 2018.
Currently, teachers earn an average of US$250 per month and around ZiG3 000.
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In a letter dated June 11, 2025, addressed to Karen Curtis, ILO chief — Freedom of Association Branch — Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) stressed its disappointment with government’s lack of urgency in addressing the educators' grievances.
“We note with disappointment that the government seems not to be taking this matter seriously,” Artuz leader Obert Masaraure stated.
“To date, the only feedback we have received was an informal call from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, ZCTU, requesting us to propose two conciliators for the process.
“This request was made on 21 March 2025 and to date we have not received any feedback on progress despite our efforts to inquire through the ZCTU.”
“We were hopeful that by now we could have engaged and resolved the raised complaint and subsequent issues that arose post filing the complaint.”
Curtis acknowledged receipt of the letter and pledged to facilitate dialogue between the union and the government.
“I acknowledge receipt of your communication dated 11 June, 2025 by which you forward additional information relating to the complaint of infringement of trade union rights which was presented by your organisation against the government Zimbabwe,” Curtis said in response.
"In accordance with the procedure in force, the contents of your communication will be transmitted to government for its observations thereon.”
Masaraure complained that educators were facing systematic persecution for demanding redress to their grievances.
“On 12 May, 2025, suspected State agents broke into our offices ahead of a planned legitimate job action. The intruders dismantled office surveillance equipment and went through files kept at the office,” Masaraure claimed.
“On 24 April, 2025, the Zimbabwe Republic Police blocked the hosting of the elective congress of the union. The congress was only allowed to proceed on condition that the union agreed to allow seven police officers to join all the proceedings of the programme.”
Early this week, nine Artuz members were arrested in Mutare, Manicaland province, after participating in a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday.
The group delivered a petition to PSC after the mini-protest.
Artuz condemned the arrest of its members saying it was in violation of section 59 of the Constitution which speaks to the right to peaceful petitioning and demonstration.
“Artuz will be engaging the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the International Labour Organisation to register this gross abuse of human and workers’ rights,” Artuz said.
The Parents Teachers Association joined Artuz in calling for the immediate release of the detained teachers.
Government previously said it was seized with addressing the plight of its employees.
