On Wednesday (30), the eve of International Workers’ Day, the government approved an update to the minimum wage for eight sectors of activity, with retroactive effect from 1 April. The adjustments vary between 150 and 1,820 meticals, but were received with reservations by trade unions, which consider them insufficient in view of the current cost of living.
The decision was taken during the 11th session of the Council of Ministers, held in Maputo. The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security, Lourinho Farnela, acknowledged that the figures do not meet expectations, but justified that the adjustments were defined ‘based on the economic and social situation’ of the country.
‘The increases announced today are not what we would like, but they are what is possible,‘ said the minister. For his part, the secretary-general of the Mozambican Workers’ Organisation – Trade Union Centre (OTM-CS), Damião Simango, openly criticised the new figures, saying that they remain far below what is necessary to ensure the livelihood of working families.
Simango explained that, based on this year’s basic basket, valued at 40,176 meticals (the lowest minimum wage covers only about 11% of the necessary amount), the highest wage reaches only 40%. ‘These wages do not meet the needs of workers. We continue to live in a reality of high living costs and low purchasing power,’ he said.
The trade union confederation also expressed concern about the postponement of the debate on the minimum wage to August, previously scheduled for the first quarter of the year, arguing that the update does not effectively respond to the needs of the working class.
The criticism comes at a time when Mozambicans continue to face difficulties exacerbated by a situation marked by social instability, job insecurity and economic slowdown.
Source: RFI
