NRZ gives its workers a US$200 allowance

Zim Now Writer

The National Railways of Zimbabwe said it that it is paying a US$200 allowance to its employees, on top of their normal salaries paid in local currency despite reports that NRZ is having many financial and operational challenges.

Giving oral evidence to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development on Monday, NRZ General Manager, Respina Zinyanduko said media reports that her company was not in good books with its employees over a number of matters, including unilateral dismissals and non-payment of salaries were a mere creation of fired workers.

Zinyanduko said their employees were grateful for the cushion though the parastatal is not competing with other private companies in terms of salary figures.

“We don’t have enough money to pay or compete with other private companies but we are, however paying US$200 in allowances over and above their RTGS salaries all meant to cushion our employees.

“Given the history of NRZ, where they are coming from, the employees are grateful even though not fully satisfied because they always expect better. NRZ is not in dispute with its employees who are in service, if you check our records, we are paying our salaries on time,” said Zinyanduko.

Taking same footprints of central government who took the lead by introducing USD allowances for civil servants, a number of quasi-government organisations have taken to cushioning their employees with USD allowances.