The Angolan Government is preparing to approve, in the short term, the national minimum wage, “in accordance with the deliberations that may take place” in the National Council of Social Coordination, without specifying a specific date.
The announcement is contained in a statement from the Ministry of Public Administrations, Labor and Social Security in reference to International Workers’ Day, which is celebrated on Wednesday, in which It is stated that the National Minimum Wage is “one of the objectives of the Angolan executive” and that will happen in the short term.
The Angolan government and three unions have been fighting over salary adjustments since last December, when a list of demands was presented to the Angolan president, João Lourenço, demanding an increase in the national minimum wage.
In the statement, The Ministry reaffirms its commitment “to the improvement of working and social conditions”highlighting some measures already implemented to improve the social conditions of public employees.
Among them, the government highlights the promotion and updating of the careers of around 30,000 employees of the general regime, the institutionalization of subsidies in remote areas for around 100,000 employees, the updating of the remuneration statutes of primary and secondary education teachers, which covered at least 207,000 fewer employees, doubling the income of higher education professors and scientific researchers.
Other measures are the institutionalization of additional hours for the careers of doctor, nursing, therapeutic technician, diagnosis and hospital support and the implementation of additional remunerations that will allow 115,000 public administration employees to earn less than 100,000 kwanzas (112 euros) begin to receive a remuneration higher than this amount, starting in June.
“The Executive will continue to implement the Roadmap for the New Remunerative Architecture in Public Administration (RINAR), from the perspective of an appropriate instrument to improve the provision of public services to citizens, through the valorization of public employees” , it states.
In the note, the Angolan government reaffirmed its commitment to guarantee contacts between government representatives, employers and workers, with a view to finding balanced solutions in terms of working conditions, relationships and income.
To the government, “There is no doubt that the commitment and exceptional performance of Angolan workers” They are the basis for “the construction of strong entities and institutions, which will consequently result in sustainable socioeconomic development for all Angolans.”
Aside from the assessment of the second phase of the interpolated general strike, which lasted from the 22nd until today, the union centers called on workers not to celebrate May 1, “as a sign of protest against the difficult social conditions those who are subjected.” are subject.”
The three Angolan unions demand an increase in the national minimum wage, from the current 32,000 kwanzas (35 euros) to 245,000 kwanzas (268 euros)a “flexible” proposal, however, of 100,000 kwanzas (109 euros), an adjustment of the salary of the public service, of the order of 250 percent, and a 10% reduction of the Labor Income Tax (IRT).
The Angolan executive decided to propose a minimum salary based on the size of the company, namely 48,000 kwanzas (52 euros) for small companies, 70,000 kwanzas (76 euros) for medium-sized companies and 96,000 kwanzas (104 euros) for large companies. companies. which was rejected by the unions.
The General Center of Independent and Free Trade Unions of Angola (CGSILA), the National Union of Angolan Workers – Trade Union Confederation (UNTA-CS) and the Força Sindical – Trade Union Center (FS-CS) also demand the updating of the subsidies provided for in the social benefits system of the National Institute of National Security (INSS), as well as in the shared management of INSS funds, providing the “necessary transparency.”
Source: Observadora
