ZIMBABWE-Government and civil servants' representatives have agreed on a salary deal that will see the least-paid employee getting three quarters of the Poverty Datum Line which they set at US$505.

Another salary review is expected mid-year and the implementation of non-monetary and indigenisation benefits would take centre-stage in between as the Zanu-PF Government fulfils its promise to improve the welfare of civil servants whose plight worsened as sanctions-induced hardships curtailed Government's capacity to pay its workforce. Both parties signed the deal.

Apex Council team leader and Zimbabwe Teachers Association president Mr Richard Gundani yesterday said the union leaders had agreed to the Government offer, bringing the total package for the lowest-paid civil servant in Grade B1 to US$375, up from US$297.

The adjustments were effected on the basic salary only and transport (US$66) and housing allowances (US$91) remained unchanged.

Government has also agreed to mobilise an additional US$3 million every month for the decompression of salary grades, a move that would see the workers being paid according to seniority, qualification and experience.

"We have adopted a salary bill that has been increased by US$13 million and we have also agreed that Government mobilise an additional US$3 million for decompression of salary grades," said Mr Gundane.

The new salary structure would also see the Government monthly wage for the over 230 000 civil servants moving from US$142 million to US$155 million.

Mr Gundane said the negotiators had also agreed on the levels of the PDL.

"For the purposes of progress we have settled on a Zimstat informed PDL which currently stands at US$505. Government had said the PDL stands at US$500 while we had used US$540," he said.

The workers were demanding US$543 as the minimum salary and 30 percent of basic salary as rural allowance.

The rural allowance remains at 5 percent of basic salary.