The government approved this Tuesday, 28 January, the payment of the 13th salary of 2024 in 50% for agents and employees of the State and in 100% for pensioners, announced the spokesperson for the Council of Ministers.
‘This measure will be made in a single instalment in February. However, it does not cover ministers, deputy ministers, deputies, governors, secretaries of state, as well as members of the boards of directors of direct and indirect state administration institutions,’ said Inocêncio Impissa, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, after a session of the body in Maputo.
The decision, the spokesman continued, should be seen as an ‘effort by the government’ in the face of the low level of state revenue collection due to the post-election demonstrations that have marked the last three months in Mozambique.
‘It should be noted that the government is continuing its efforts to ensure the payment of civil servants‘ overtime and debts to suppliers of goods and services to the state,’ Impissa added.
On 17 January, at least five civil servants’ associations called for a total stoppage of work for an indefinite period, starting on 20 January, to demand payment of the 13th month.
At a press conference, the five associations, namely the National Association of Teachers (Anapro), the National Association of Nurses of Mozambique (Anemo), the Association of United and Solidarity Health Professionals of Mozambique (APSUSM), the Association of United Teachers (APU) and the National Civil Service Union (Sinafp), accused the government of ‘lack of interest’ in resolving the concerns of public workers, promising ‘pressure’ until a solution is found.
The government made a commitment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to pay civil servants a third of the 13th month in 2024 and half by 2028, according to a document reported in July by Lusa.
‘We have approved a medium-term action plan to help reduce the wage bill to 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP),’ reads a letter sent by the authorities to the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as part of the fourth review of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme.
The letter, addressed to Kristalina Georgieva, dated 21 June and signed by the then Minister of Economy and Finance, Max Tonela, and the governor of the Bank of Mozambique, Rogério Zandamela, states that this plan ‘includes political measures’.
