Brazilian researchers have concluded that, since 2016, Mozambique has recorded improvements in the health of public sector workers, “especially in terms of legislation,” while warning of persistent problems related to depression and alcoholism.
“From 2016 onwards, elements of decent work were incorporated into the prevailing labour legislation, namely: entry into the State through provisional appointment, adequate conditions of hygiene and occupational safety, pay equity and labour justice,” the researchers note in a study released this week and reported by Lusa.
Entitled “Guaranteeing the Mental Health and Well-Being of Public Servants in Mozambique Within the Framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Progress, Limits and Perspectives,” the research involved academics from Brazilian universities—specifically Ribeirão Preto and Bahia—in partnership with equivalent Mozambican institutions.
According to the study, between 2016 and 2024 there were some advances in mental health and well-being among public servants, with the SDGs forming part of government action plans. The research also highlights improvements in pay equity through the implementation of the Single Salary Table (TSU), which has been in force since 2022.
However, despite these advances, the study notes that “the realisation of certain rights remains utopian, as public institutions in Mozambique operate in a context of austerity and limited public investment, which restricts the provision of adequate working conditions, human resources and career development opportunities.” It further observes “a scenario of suffering and mental illness among public servants, manifested through symptoms of stress, depression and alcoholism.” Inadequate working and employment conditions, combined with the poor living conditions of communities where some public servants work, are identified as factors that undermine mental health and well-being.
According to the document, “the emergence of mental disorders and psychological suffering among these workers will not only hinder the achievement of the goal related to ensuring mental health and well-being for all, but also other SDG targets, as well as national public policy plans.”
In light of these findings, the researchers believe that understanding the Mozambican context is an important contribution to the global discussion on the world of work and workers’ conditions within the SDG framework. They stress that it is “essential for different realities to be known and scientifically recognised, which can mobilise not only cross-cultural studies but also a counter-colonial narrative—that is, one that allows different realities to be described according to their own reference points,” the study concludes.
Source: Diário Económico
