Zimbabwe Teachers Cut Workweek to Three Days Over Pay Crisis
Teachers in Zimbabwe have announced plans to work only three days a week, reserving the remaining two weekdays for income-generating activities, as they protest what their union describes as inadequate salaries and deteriorating working conditions.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) notified the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education of the move as schools began the third term on September 8. The union said the decision followed months of unresolved salary concerns.
ARTUZ says teachers need a minimum basic salary of about US$1,260 a month to maintain what it considers a dignified standard of living. The union warned that unless the government addresses the dispute, the reduced attendance could disrupt learning.
The salary dispute comes amid broader concerns over the cost of living and teacher welfare. Education International reported that a teacher’s total monthly remuneration was around US$450, while the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association estimated that a family of five needed about US$1,084 a month to cover essential expenses.
The latest move also highlights the growing dependence of Zimbabwean teachers on side businesses and other income-generating activities. Earlier this year, teachers’ unions reported that educators were increasingly turning to alternative sources of income because their salaries could not meet basic needs.
The dispute places additional pressure on Zimbabwe’s education system as the government faces demands to improve public-sector wages while managing broader fiscal pressures.
For parents and students, the immediate concern is whether the reduced working schedule will translate into fewer classroom hours and further disruption to learning.
