Mozambican trade union federation criticises justification for bread price rises

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Mozambican trade union federation criticises justification for bread price rises

6:02 CAT | 01 Jul 2016

The Mozambique Workers’ Organization yesterday criticised bakers’ arguments for increasing the price of bread, saying that justifying the measure on the grounds of recent adjustments to the minimum wage is “mis-timed and devoid of logic”.

“[The Mozambique Workers’ Organization] refutes and expresses its indignation over Amopao [Mozambican Association of Bakers] including in their claims the readjustment of the minimum wage,” a Union statement sent yesterday to Lusa reads.

Claiming the bakers lack any justification or “any logical framework”, the organization further argues that the argument is mis-timed, as minimum wages in the sector were increased in April.

While admitting that the economic environment is difficult, the document advises bakers to opt for negotiation with the Mozambican government before issuing “any intimidating public statements”, since this is an issue that “stirs the minimum sensitivity of Mozambican society”.

The Mozambican Association of Bakers (Amopao) yesterday announced a rise in the price of bread from today, Friday, due to increases in the cost of raw materials. Under the new price regime, 250 g of bread will rise from 7.5 meticais (0.10 euros) to 9 meticais (0.12 euros) and 200 g from 6 meticais (0.08 euros) to 7 meticais (0.09 euros).

Talking to the press after the bakers meeting, President of Amopao Victor Miguel said that it was a proposal only and that it should be considered by the government, but yesterday he told Lusa that it was a decision.

The new prices, he said, would help bakers cope with the difficult economic situation and the increase in price of raw materials, adding that, according to their information, 98 bakeries had closed in the last six months due to increased input prices.

In April, the Minister of Industry and Commerce of Mozambique, Max Tonela, ruled out any possibility of a further increase in the price of bread in response to a claim lodged by Amopao in March.

The last time the country saw a rise in the price of bread was in October 2015. In 2010, the rising price of bread and other commodities caused a popular revolt in Maputo, with several people killed in clashes with the police.

Source: Lusa