The general secretary of the General Confederation of Independent and Free Trade Unions of Angola (CGSILA), Francisco Jacinto, who presented to Lusa the conclusions of the provincial assemblies held last Saturday, said this Tuesday that the workers decided to wait to see if the salary increase would be implemented in February.
The recommendation was to wait until the end of February to assess whether or not the Government will implement the 25 percent and “if it does not, then the provincial assemblies will decide to resume the general strike,” said the general secretary of CGSILA.
Francisco Jacinto stated that the recommendation of the provincial assemblies coincides with the consideration that the CGSILA, the National Union of Angolan Workers – Trade Union Confederation (UNTA-CS) and the Força Sindical (FS) adopted in January [when a 25 percent salary increase should have come into effect].
“Today we received information, in a document, which confirms that the 25 percent will in fact be implemented at the end of February,” said the union leader, considering that with this guarantee there are no more reasons to reactivate the strike.
According to a note released on Monday by the Ministry of Finance, the salary increase for Angolan public servants and administrative agents will be reflected in the February salary processing.
The ministry clarifies, in the note published on its website, that the retroactive amount for the month of January will be paid in two equal installments, in the salary processing for the months of February and March of the current year.
The Three-Year Agreement for the Valorization of Workers through Social Dialogue (2025-2027), signed in May 2024, in Luanda, with the trade unions, provides that the salary review of the entire public sector will take place in three years, with effect from January 2025, with an increase of 25 percent, foreseeing negotiations on September 30 of each year for subsequent increases.
Francisco Jacinto complained about “non-compliance” with this agreement, saying that the clause relating to the increase in the national minimum wage was the “only one that, to date, has been fully complied with”.
Representatives of the trade unions, he said, remain absent from the committees that study the reduction of the Income Tax on Work (IRT) and that evaluate the extension of remote areas, for subsidy purposes, as well as from the fiscal council of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).
“We have already scheduled a meeting with the executive to address other points and these non-compliances (…). There is an urgent need for ministerial departments to comply with the agreement,” concluded the head of CGSILA.
