By Rungano Dzikira

Government yesterday offered a 50% upward review for civil servants salaries as well as advancing a three months non-taxable 75 USD COVID 19 allowance package for its workforce, effective this month.

The salaries upward adjustment also applies to all government pensions including a 30USD payment per month.

The civil service salaries review, comes as a huge relief after the expiry of a four months COLA pay scheme previously offered by Government, to cushion its workforce from the transitory economic challenges.

In a statement yesterday, Government re-affirmed its commitment to the welfare of its workers through continuous review of remuneration.

“With immediate effect, all Civil Servants salaries will be adjusted upwards by 50%. This increase also applies to all Government Pensions.

“An additional flat non-taxable, Covid-19 allowance of USD75 per month for Civil Servants and USD30 for Government Pensioners per month,” read part of the statement.

The interim arrangement will be for three months, starting this June to August 2020.

Treasury said the move to adjust salaries was motivated by “commitment to continuously review and improve the remuneration framework for civil servants, taking into account the transitory economic challenges being currently experienced in the country, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Apart from the salary increment, Government added that it was also in the process of widening its remuneration for Civil Servants to include non-monetary benefits to be announced in due course.