The government ignored its workers’ call for a National Joint Negotiating Forum (NJNC) after Apex Council officials met on Wednesday alone without officials from the government.
The restive workers resolved to meet again this Friday to map the way forward following the latest government snub. Speaking to reporters after Wednesday’s meeting, Apex Council chairperson Thomas Muzondo, said:
Having written to government to convene an urgent National Joint Negotiation Committee (NJNC) meeting on or before the 9th October, 2019 and having received no response of any kind from government; having recognised the urgent need for the capacitation of workers given the rapidly deteriorating situation the Apex Council meeting today resolved that all the 14 Apex Council member unions consult with their members on a course of action to be taken.
A feedback meeting of the Apex Council will be convened on Friday 11 October 2019 to consolidate the unions’ positions towards collective action.
Civil servants are demanding a salary increment to match galloping inflation which is now estimated to be above 500 per cent, the highest in the world. In August this year, the government raised its workers’ salaries by 70 per cent.