Abigail Mawonde Herald Reporter
GOVERNMENT has started deducting rentals backdated to 2009 from civil servants living in its houses. The employer traditionally deducts rentals from its employees but had stopped doing so for the past four years.

It only started deducting the rentals this year.

The move has not gone down well with civil servants some of whom now have $100 deducted from their pay every month.

The affected civil servants have since written to the Provincial Public Works director for Harare Metropolitan Province registering their displeasure.

“We never refused to pay rent in the first instance and we have been paying before, and from 2009 to date it is the employer who ceased deducting five percent of basic income citing economic situation and poor remuneration.

“We continued working up to now without being informed that we were incurring arrears. Such collection of money is true marginalisation of the already deprived employees,” reads the letter.

Prior to the backdated deductions, Government removed five percent from each employee’s salary towards rentals.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing secretary Engineer George Mlilo on Monday said Government would continue deducting the backdated rentals.

“Efforts are not visible from the employees that they will pay up the outstanding balance, so we will continue to deduct until the dues are paid.

“You cannot hold the employer at ransom for not giving you housing allowance . . . By virtue of staying in someone’s property, you have got to pay,” said Engineer Mlilo.

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