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Bulawayo Bureau
ABOUT 10 200 teachers will have their leave days deducted as punishment for embarking on an industrial action early this month, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has said.

Thousands of teachers participated in a strike called by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) early this month demanding a salary increase and better conditions of   service.

In a statement yesterday, PSC acting chairperson Mr Ozias Hove said the commission will not pay teachers for not working and a repeat of the industrial action will attract a more severe punishment.

“The PSC has noted isolated cases of abscondment by about 10 200 teachers for durations ranging from one to four days between 5 and 8 February, 2019. The commission will employ the principle of “No Work, No Pay” to punish teachers who deserted their duties.

“The PSC would also like to advise all teachers who were absent from work without authority that deductions from their leave days (of the offending individuals) using the principle of no work no pay will be effected,” said Mr Hove.

He said the commission was treating the 10 200 as first offenders and a repeat will attract a more severe punishment.