101122E – MOZAMBICAN GOVERNMENT AND DOCTORS ASSOCIATION IN NEGOTIATIONS TO AVERT STRIKE
Maputo, 02 Nov (AIM) – Mozambican Health Minister Armindo Tiago on Wednesday announced in Maputo that negotiations are under way between doctors and the Mozambican government to avert a nationwide strike called last week by the Mozambican Medical Association (AMM).
The strike comes in the wake of claims made by the AMM about mistakes that have apparently been made in the implementation of the Single Wage Table (TSU).
However, Tiago says that any claims should be sent to the respective Human Resources departments and assured that there is capacity to correct any mistakes that may have occurred.
‘We have already started, as we speak the teams from the government and the Doctors’ Association are working at the Health Ministry,’ said Tiago.
‘Yesterday (Tuesday) we had a meeting with the Association of Mozambican Nurses Association, with the Order of Nurses of Mozambique and the Mozambican Midwives Association. So, as a government we favour dialogue and negotiations to resolve any differences,’ Tiago stressed.
He reassured all doctors who fear a cut of their salaries with the implementation of the new Single Wage Table.
‘There is an article in the law that says that no one will reduce their salary,’ the minister stressed.
Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Amilcar Tivane believes that the complaints lodged by doctors and other professional groups bear no relation with the structure of the TSU, but rather with lack of understanding of the criteria for its implementation.
Tivane recommends the channelling of all complaints to the Interministerial Framework Commission.
According to the deputy minister, the Commission has a period of 15 days, counted from the date in which the complaint was made, to process it, which may result in the corrections.
Civil servants will be entitled to the payment of difference in cases where his/her salary is lower salary than the one he/her was earning.
‘I should mention that with regards to this matter the Law provides for an adjustment allowance,’ said the deputy minister, adding ‘the adjustment allowance aims to compensate those who, eventually on account of the TSU start receiving a salary which is lower compared to pre-TSU level.
So this subsidy will make up for this wage cut and ensure that at the very least nobody feels aggrieved.
The TSU sets salaries based on three parameters, namely length of service, length of career and academic qualifications.
(AIM)
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(AIM / AIMENG)
