The Zimbabwean government will increase salaries for state workers at the end of July to put them closer to normal levels than the current US$100 monthly allowance, reports said.

Executive Secretary Emmanuel Tichareva of the Public Service Association said his union has heard from a senior Treasury official that salaries of civil servants are under review.

But he said there has not yet been any official notice of an increase.

The Zimbabwe Independent newspaper quoted Finance Minister Tendai Biti as saying new salaries for public servants will be announced on July 16 in his quarterly review.

Tichareva told reporter Patience Rusere of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the move by the government is probably intended to avert a looming strike.

More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...