The payment of overtime arrears for health and education professionals will be finalised by the end of the first half of this year. The information was provided by the spokesman for the Council of Ministers, Inocêncio Impissa, at the end of the body’s fourth ordinary session, held on Tuesday (11) in Maputo, as reported by the Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM).
According to the government spokesman, who also holds the State Administration and Civil Service portfolio, the payment will take place in two phases. The first will take place in the first 100 days of government, while the second will begin in the second quarter, allowing all debts related to overtime to be settled by June.
In the same period, the government also plans to settle arrears with suppliers of state goods and services, following a similar phased payment model. The first instalment will be processed within the first 100 days, while the second still needs to be validated before it can be implemented.
The irregularities identified by the former Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), now the Ministry of Finance, in the process of requisitioning and paying overtime have caused concern in the Executive.
‘In the same period, the government also plans to settle arrears with suppliers of state goods and services, following a similar phased payment model’
Flaws were found such as requests being submitted without evidence of the services being provided, calculations being made without complying with the minimum workload and overtime being booked without being recorded in a time book or class book. Overtime was also included on weekly rest days and amounts were unduly inflated.
For health professionals, the issue of overtime is not the only concern. The Association of United and Solidary Health Professionals of Mozambique (APSUSM) warns of the urgent need to equip operating theatres and strengthen the supply of medical and surgical equipment, essential elements for improving the quality of surgeries and hospital care.
Also at the Council of Ministers session, the Executive declared a three-day National Mourning, starting at midnight on Wednesday (12) and ending at midnight on Saturday (14), in honour of the former President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, who died last Saturday (8) at the age of 95. During the period of mourning, the national flag will be hoisted at half-mast throughout the country and at Mozambique’s diplomatic and consular missions.
