The first National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting for 2023 is set to be held on Thursday, 2 March 2023.

The National Joint Negotiating Council is a platform that brings together government representatives and unions representing civil servants to tackle issues to do with salaries and conditions of service for civil servants.

In a statement issued this Wednesday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima said:

“We wish to advise members of the Public Service that parties to the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) are currently finalising position papers for tabling in Council for consideration.

“Accordingly, members are advised that the 2023 National Joint Negotiating Council inaugural meeting that had been pencilled for 1 March 2023 has been moved to the 2nd of March 2023.

“The Government remains committed to improving the welfare and conditions of service for members of the Public Service.

“This round of negotiations is in line with the Government’s commitment that a review will be done in the first quarter of 2023.”

Over the past few years, Civil servants have been pushing for the restoration of their salaries to pre-October 2018 levels when the lowest-paid government worker took home at least US$500.

Teachers yesterday declared strike over the matter, saying the government should at least pay them US$1200.