The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Paul Mavima said that civil servants will start receiving the 13th cheque this month.
However, some top civil servants, that is, heads of Government departments who signed performance contracts will not receive their bonuses if they fail to meet their targets.
Speaking during an interview with The Herald on Tuesday, Mavima said deserving civil servants will start getting their bonuses this month. He said:
Yes, they will get bonuses starting in November. The civil servants who performed well as per the performance-based contracts they signed will be part of those who will start receiving the 13th cheque this month.
… the bonuses are, however, based on those performance contracts for Cabinet Ministers, permanent secretaries and directors. The performance indicators are clear.
Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU), formerly Apex Council, chairperson, Cecilia Alexander, said during the last National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting it was agreed that bonuses will be paid from the deputy director downwards. She said:
For directors upwards, it will be performance-based, but from deputy directors downwards, we indicated that everyone should get the bonus. This is what we tabled at the last NJNC meeting.
Alexander also confirmed that the government had paid civil servants the 25 percent salary increase it promised during the last meeting.
Speaking at a function in Bulawayo recently, Primary and Secondary Education permanent secretary Tumisang Thabela said senior civil servants will not get bonuses automatically. Said Thabela:
We received notification (from the employer) that beginning in 2022 everyone, director and above will not get a bonus automatically.
If you are a director or grade above, you are going to be assessed according to your performance and be given a performance bonus if you deserve it.
If you don’t meet the targets which you set yourself together with your supervisor, which met the minimum expectations, then you might have to go and tell your children this year that there is no bonus starting with your permanent secretary.
So, the only people who are safe are from deputy director or acting deputy director.