
: Médicos marcham pela saúde e direitos humanos em Maputo
Maputo, 17 Jan (AIM) – Mozambique’s public administration staff are threatening to go on strike as of Monday if the government does not pay the traditional New Year bonus.
The bonus is equivalent to an extra month of the basic wage, and so it is known as “the 13th month”. Employers, including the government, are under no legal obligation to pay this bonus, but it has come to be regarded asa right.
The outgoing Prime Minister, Adriano Maleiane, had on Tuesday announced that the government does not have enough money to pay the bonus. He claimed that the state budget only contains enough money to pay the December wage bill, and to solve “some specific questions, particularly with regard to education” (a reference to the overtime payments that teachers have been demanding for months).
In a statement, signed by the National Public Service Union and the National Association of Teachers (ANAPRO), the public administration staff claims that, as from Monday, they will boycott all activities in order to pressure the government so that it pays them the 13th month.
“At a meeting, the workers unanimously decided to stop working from 20 January 2025 until the 13th month is paid in full. The non-payment of the 13th month represents a clear lack of respect and devaluation of public servants”, reads the statement.
It adds that the justification for not paying the 13th month was presented on the last day scheduled for its payment “and only came to light thanks to a question asked by the media. In this context, we reiterate that until the 13th month is paid, all public service activities will be paralyzed.”
“We currently feel that we are being undervalued and disrespected in our role. The allegation of lack of financial availability has often been used as a justification for not resolving this impasse. We call for respect and appreciation for the work of public servants, who are essential for the well-being of the population”, reads the statement.
On Thursday, a group of agricultural extension workers assigned to the “Sustenta” programme, which was the flagship programme of the outgoing Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, demonstrated in front of the Ministry’s building in order to demand five months’ wage arrears.
The extensionists claim that the last time they received their wages was in July, and then only after going on strike. However, they say that the problems with wages have arisen since the start of the programme.
“We’ve never had our wages paid properly, we’re not entitled to any allowances and we have nothing”, said one of the workers.
According to another protester, as part of this project, “we received motorbikes but the government never bothered to maintain them and they always say that we have to solve all the problems with our own money. But how can we solve them if we don’t even get a proper wage?”
(AIM)
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