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Felex Share Senior Reporter
THE Apex Council, the statutory body that represents civil servants in salary negotiations with Government, says it has not taken a position regarding collective job action next week, The Herald can reveal. The civil servants’ umbrella body met on Thursday and resolved to engage Government over their conditions of service. The Government has since scheduled a meeting for Monday.

In a statement yesterday, Acting Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo said invitations had been sent to members of the Apex Council and all registered public service staff associations to attend the meeting.

“Following the commitment made towards the close of 2018, Government has scheduled a meeting with all registered public service staff associations on 7th January, 2019 at 1000hrs at NSSA Building on the 11th Floor boardroom in Harare,” he said.

Minister Moyo said the meeting would discuss conditions of service for civil servants.

“This meeting is part of the commitment of Government to engage all its employees in pursuit of developing common positions in relation to the improvement of employee salaries and generally resolve any matters that impact their conditions of service,” he said.

Expected to attend the meeting are Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza, Finance and Economic Development Minister Dr Mthuli Ncube, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira and the chairman of the Public Service Commission Dr Vincent Hungwe.

A consultative meeting of the National Joint Negotiating Council was held last month where the workers presented a set of issues for discussion.

In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Apex Council secretary Mr David Dzatsunga said while they wanted their salaries to be improved, there was no position taken regarding a collective strike action.

“We met and came up with several resolutions. Those resolutions do not at all indicate that we have called for a strike yet. The reaction by Government will determine the next course of action we will take. We are waiting for a formal invitation from Government such that we discuss and know where we stand. It is not a secret that we want our salaries to be improved,” he said.

Minister Moyo said Monday’s meeting would consider the issues raised by the civil servants to map the way forward.