Zimbabwe teachers demand pay rise and Covid-19 allowance, to boycott work until demands met

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Zimbabwe's biggest teacher union said on Monday its members would not return to work for the first time since March next week unless they are paid a Covid-19 allowance and given a pay rise. The government shut schools in March in a bid to prevent the spread of the covid-19, which has infected 7 683 people and led to 225 deaths. Most schools are due to re-open next week, although only for students sitting their final exams.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), in a circular to its 42 000 members, called for monthly pay to be a minimum $520 (Z$42,488), compared to the 4 000 Zimbabwe dollars that the lowest paid teacher earns. Pay has been eroded over the past two years from a minimum of $480 as Zimbabwe has switched from using the U.S. dollar as its main currency to using the local currency, as its financial crisis has deepened.

ZIMTA said, the ZIMTA national executive hereby declares that all educators will not be able to report for duty on the 28 September for opening of schools. It wanted to negotiate Covid-19 allowances to reflect the risk of heading back to the classroom before members returned to work.