Xinavane: Employees going back to work – O País

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Xinavane: Employees going back to work – O País

11:20 CAT | 07 Mar 2022

Image: O País

Sixty-five percent of the approximately 4,000 workers at the Xinavane sugar factory in Maputo province have already returned to work, after a strike that saw the vandalising of various infrastructure and goods.

The employer, the trade union and the government reached an agreement to a salary increase for a period of one year. But the workforce says that the consensus reached is not consistent with the goals of the strike.

The workers at the Xinavane sugar factory have, however, got a pay rise. The agreements reached, covering the period March 2022 to March 2023, grant salary increases ranging from 330 to 940 meticais.

A1 category pay has risen from 5,870 to 6,200 meticais, A2 from 6,015 to 6,330 meticais, and A3 from 6,105 to 6,550 meticais.

B1 category workers’ pay has risen from 7500 to 8030 meticais, B2 from 9170 to 9590 meticais, and B3 from 11,235 to 12,005 meticais.

B4 category workers previously earning 13,530 meticais will now receive 14,140 meticais, and B5 wages rise from 17,080 to 18,020 meticais.

The negotiations involved the government of Mozambique, Açucareira de Xinavane owner Tongaat Hulett, and the trade union representing the workforce.

But for workers, the increase is far from satisfying expectations.

“For us, these rises are those that would have taken place in normal annual negotiations. But the aim of the strike was not that, so this is far from satisfying our concerns. But that’s what we got, and we’ve come to terms with it, so everything is fine and we’re already back at work,” said workers’ representative Orlando Chume.

Company representative Ananias Chomola warned that workers who were not back at work by March 2 risked losing their jobs.

“From the 2nd of March, with immediate effect, anyone who does not return to his or her job will be subject to a disciplinary process which, in the extreme, may lead to them losing their jobs.”

The company representative confirmed that the 27 workers detained by the police will be tried this week and may be held accountable according to the degree of their involvement in the riots.

Police in Maputo province have assured the public that public order in the area around the plant has been entirely restored.

By Amandio Borges

Source: O País