On Thursday 14 September, the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, thanked health workers for returning to hospitals after a period of strikes in protest against pay irregularities and demands for better working conditions.
“The people and the government thank you and welcome the stance you have taken in deciding to return to the health centres and take care of Mozambicans,” said the statesman, during the inauguration of the Lichinga Provincial Hospital in the northern province of Niassa.
Recently, the health system in Mozambique faced a crisis caused by staff strikes, called first by the Medical Association of Mozambique (AMM) and then by the Association of United and Solidarity Health Professionals of Mozambique (APSUSM).
The two organisations called off the strikes in August in order to make room for negotiations with the government and, according to the head of state, “the dialogue between the parties has been productive and positive”, adding that the action culminated in a return to work.
AMM and APSUSM suspended the strike until 2 October and 5 November respectively. However, they warned of a possible resumption if the agreements of the ongoing negotiations are not honoured.
The application of the new civil service salary scale is being strongly contested by various professional classes, with a record of salary delays and cuts, criticised by various segments of the state apparatus.
