Minimum wages: Workers’ expectations “not met” at negotiations

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Minimum wages: Workers’ expectations “not met” at negotiations

3:47 CAT | 26 Apr 2022

Illustrative photo: Lusa

The Mozambican Workers’ Organization says that the negotiations between the productive sectors and the Government on the revision of the minimum wage in the country did not reach expectations. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security said that the2021 economic performance will dictate the salary adjustment.

Workers, employers and the Ministry of Labour this Monday presented proposals for the readjustment of minimum wages by sectors of activity. On the sidelines of the session, the employee class professed dissatisfaction with the course of the negotiations.

“Workers’ expectations were not met. Although we are not satisfied, we are encouraged to continue with the negotiation of social packages at the level of the sectors of activity, to reinforce the recovery of purchasing power,” declared André Mandlate, representative of the Mozambican Workers’ Organisation.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security stated that it was still premature to advance figures, but believes in a slight increase in the minimum wage.

“We had growth in the Gross Domestic Product in the order of 2.17%. It is true that the sectors have seen some retraction, but the economic development has been positive, which makes us optimistic in the discussions. We believe that the increases will be higher than last year,” said Emídio Mavila, spokesman for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

The increase in fuel prices is seen by the national business community as one of the influences towards a possible positive variation in the lower salary, but the alert remains.

“We have to be aware that there are projections regarding the impact of the current scenarios in the world that can be reflected in our economy. The readjustments may, apparently, be to the benefit of the worker, but, at the end of the day, we can see that if we exaggerate the limits that have to be observed, from a material point of view, jobs could be jeopardised in the future,” warned Paulino Cossa, president of CTA’s Labour and Social Security department.

The proposals discussed in the plenary sessions of the Consultative Labour Commission are now being submitted to the Council of Ministers for due approval.

By Edmilson Lambo

Source: O País