Mozambique: Solve wage arrears, even if you have to work all night – AIM | Watch

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Mozambique: Solve wage arrears, even if you have to work all night – AIM | Watch

6:34 CAT | 11 Aug 2023

Screen grab: Presidente Filipe Nyusi / FAcebook

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Friday ordered that all officials responsible for the processing and payment of wages in the public administration must work throughout the weekend to ensure that wage arrears for members of the defence and security forces are paid as from Monday.

Speaking during a ceremony at which he swore into office four new assistant attorney-generals, Nyusi said he did not want to hear any more excuses and justifications for late payment of wages. Some members of the defence and security forces have not received their wages for three months.

He said it makes no sense to allege that the delays are because of the new computerized platform being assembled to process wages. The claim is that the switchover to the new system is not complete, which is why it has not been possible to pay all wages on time,

Nyusi rejected such arguments “if it is not yet possible to pay everyone on time through the new table, then pay them using the old system, until the new one is completed”, he said.

Nyusi instructed Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane to meet on Friday or Saturday with all the officials who have been applying the new Unified Wage Table (TSU) for the public administration. He told Maleiane to work with them throughout the weekend, and even at night if necessary, so that on Monday the wage arrears for the defence and security forces could be paid.

Solving this problem was the top priority, he insisted, and if officials had to go without sleep to complete the task, that is what they would have to do.

There have been repeated complaints about the implementation of the TSU, among both military and civilian staff. This week an open letter to Nyusi circulated on Mozambican social media, urging him to solve the problem of wage arrears.

“Wages are sacred”, declared Nyusi. “They are the most visible expression of social justice. We cannot go on alleging this and that, among many excuses and justifications”.

In particular, the Permanent Secretaries in the ministries must guarantee that the systems for paying wages are working properly. “This is necessary so as to ensure that the State functions”, he declared.

He warned that he would not be tolerant to those who failed to pay wages to their subordinates. Those who had not paid members of the defence forces for three months had proved that they are not suitable for the positions they hold, and so should make way for people who are more competent.

“If you don’t change, you will be changed”, he said.

Source: AIM