By Albert Mpofu
Employees of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)are facing financial hardships that prevent them from reporting for duty on a full-time basis. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and Allied Workers Trade Union (ZIMRATU) have petitioned for a reduced workweek schedule to alleviate the workers’ financial incapacitation caused by inflation.
ZIMRATU President Dominic Manyangadze addressed the ZIMRA Commissioner General in a letter, expressing the employees’ inability to meet basic needs like shelter, transportation, food, and education expenses for their families. The transport allowance provided by ZIMRA is insufficient due to the continuous erosion of the local currency’s value, and the housing allowance falls short of landlords’ demands.
ZIMRATU members have requested a work arrangement that enables them to report for duty three days a week, as they struggle with their finances. They seek a timetable specifying the designated workdays for each employee, with a deadline set for end of day today the 26th.
ZIMRA, once known for generous salaries, is now affected by the rapid depreciation of the local currency, making Zimbabwe dollar salaries unsustainable. The financial challenges faced by ZIMRA workers highlight the ongoing economic difficulties in Zimbabwe and the need for comprehensive measures to address inflation and ensure fair remuneration.The response from ZIMRA and relevant authorities is awaited, leaving the future work arrangements and financial stability of ZIMRA workers uncertain.
