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Mozambique: Xinavane sugar workers call truce on strike; Tongaat to decide on wage demands by Tuesday
9:18 CAT | 15 Feb 2022
File photo: Noticias
The circa 4,000 workers at Açucareira de Xinavane, in Maputo province, who have been on strike since 31 January claiming salary readjustments and bonus payments for the last two years, last Friday (11-02), called “a 10-day truce” on their industrial action, counting from last Friday) February 11), the day a preliminary agreement with Tongaat Hullett was reached.
The sugar workers undertook to return to their jobs with immediate effect, as per an agreement signed between the management of Tongaat Hulett in Xinavane, the Sugarcane Workers Union Committee (represented by Orlando Chume), the government (represented by the Inspector-General of Labour, Domingos Sambo) and the Administrator of Manhiça District, Christina de Jesus.
‘Carta’ has learned that all four parties met at the Xinavane sugar works last Friday in a bid to resolve the crisis.
The agreement furthermore stipulates that, “following negotiations between the company and the Trade Union Committee and the government, it was agreed that, regarding the days of stoppage of activities by the workers, the company undertakes to proceed to the payment of the seven of the 11 days of strike”.
With regard to production bonuses and salary readjustment, the management of Tongaat Hulett at Xinavane will submit the matter for consideration to the executive committee of the group in South Africa, with a response expected within seven days from the date of conclusion of the agreement.
“As for the points in the list of demands, the commissions will continue to work in accordance with the previously established schedule,” the document reads.
Speaking to Carta de Moçambique, the secretary of the Trade Union Committee said that these decisions did not please everybody, with some continuing to grumble, because Tongaat Hulett at no time declares in the agreement that it will either adjust the salaries or pay the bonuses.
In addition, the source feels that the company should pay for all 11 days of the strike, as by law, in the event of a demonstration with a consequent work stoppage, the employer must still pay for the days in which the worker was on strike.
As a result, the source pointed out, some workers were not at their posts last Saturday. “However, as you can see, it was a weekend, so we will draw the appropriate conclusions this Monday. But on Tuesday we will know what decision the group management in South Africa has taken,” the trade union secretary at Tongaat Hulett in Xinavane said.
Since August of last year, workers at the Xinavane sugar mill been demanding a salary increase from the current 4,500.00 to 7,000.00 meticais a month (from current around ZAR 1,289.00 to 2,005.00, at current exchange rates}. Tongaat Hulett rejected their demands, leading to strike action being taken on January 31, 2022.
The company however continued to ignore the workers’ demands, but after 11 days, and with the presence of the government, agreement was reached last Friday.
After this resumption of activities for ten days, should Tongaat fail to respond, the workers will resume the strike,
By Evaristo Chilingue
Source: Carta de Moçambique
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