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Companies can help keep employees motivated by constructing houses for them while making monthly deductions just like they would do with any other loan

John Manzongo At the Workplace
The past few weeks were intense, and anxiety over how much money civil servants would get as an increment was just too much.
Some unscrupulous business people were already calculating price increase margins in anticipation of new salaries.
The long wait is finally over.
Government and civil servants have finally agreed on a sustainable and realistic salary increment that reflects the performance of our country’s economy.

The baton has now been passed on to the private sector, which also has been paying very low salaries.
Just like civil servants’ salaries, private sector earnings were also frozen for years.
They were obviously waiting to hear how much Government workers would get.

Now that civil servants have received a significant figure, the private sector can do the same and pay higher salaries given that they operate with the aim of making profit.

I believe it is very possible for the private sector to give their workers a living wage, one that would greatly motivate them to work in a productive manner.

A motivated workforce is highly productive and this also nips in the bud corruption that has taken our nation by storm.
Salaries are not the only issues affecting workers.

I feel sorry for Government employees who were not awarded transport and housing allowances.
At least they are better off than other workers as they are guaranteed houses to be built for them soon.

Above all, they have been promised another increment come mid-year.
Those in Harare enjoy free transport provided by CMED buses to and from work and this definitely counts for something.

Private sector workers are, however, not cushioned at all on such issues like transport or accommodation, making it necessary for their employers to seriously consider adjusting these two critical bills.

Without accommodation workers cannot productively perform at work because they are likely to be dozing most times.
Without reliable transport coming to work is very difficult.

Last week I highlighted that transport fares from almost all suburbs were unilaterally hiked from US$0,50 to US$1 in October 2013 and workers never received the necessary adjustment. Instead they had to tighten their belts.

If ever you want to pay a kombi using US$0,50 you need to wait until 9am.
If ever you want to get a kombi for US$0,0.50 after work, you need to wait until 8pm.

It is usually risky as travellers, especially women, are likely to be mugged or robbed by unpredictable kombi crews.
The above are just basics which need urgent attention.

Most workers used to receive extra earnings on a quarterly basis through profit sharing.
Despite profit sharing being a great motivator, most companies have stopped doing so.

Private sector employers can save a lot of money in salary increments by giving their workers profits which are declared once or twice a year.

I believe if adopted this can be a silent motivator for private sector workers.
Like I said last week, this is our only country, we were born here, belong here, shall live and die here.

Let us all be duty bound to work for it in a transparent, faithful, dedicated and corrupt free manner.
Sometimes employers do not seem to realise that motivating workers can be in various simple forms, those little incentives matter most because at least they will feel recognised.

Companies, in my opinion, can buy land which they will then allocate to their workers while deducting from their salaries every month.
This will not just motivate them but will also act as a retention package for the workers as they would not leave the employer who bought them a stand.

The company can also help the employees in constructing the houses while deducting dues just like what banks do when they give out a loan.

I am not sure how Government is going to handle the issue of its workers’ accommodation, but I believe these are the few options which they can consider.

It is every worker’s dream to own a house.
The repayment periods can be up to 20 years and the employer is guaranteed that workers stand by the company until  the loan is paid up.

Both parties then benefit.
The ball is in your court employers and employees.

It is up to you to negotiate for the best possible packages that guarantee prosperity and development of our beloved nation.