"Unfortunately, we did not reach any agreement as today we had access to the proposals that were presented, that is, the Government reiterated its proposals already presented to the unions at the last meeting", said, this Wednesday, Teixeira Cândido, union spokesperson at the end of the meeting.
Teixeira Cândido recalled that, in relation to the national minimum wage, the unions were demanding 245,000 kwanzas and that in the scope of previous negotiations the proposal was "flexible" to 100,000 kwanzas.
Meanwhile, he explained, the Government decided to propose a minimum wage depending on the size of the company, namely 48,000 kwanzas for small companies, 70,000 kwanzas for medium-sized companies and 96,000 kwanzas for large companies, which was rejected by the unions.
"The centers want 100,000 kwanzas regardless of the size of the company. In relation to the salary adjustment (of the civil service) we have made it flexible to (an increase of) 100 percent and the Government does not yet have a concrete proposal", he said.
The general secretary of the Union of Angolan Journalists also said that the unions demanded an IRT (Work Income Tax) reduced to 10 percent, which after negotiations evolved to 15 percent as a fixed rate, "but the Government also has no answer", he stressed.
"Everything resulted from a negotiation process and yet the Government says it cannot satisfy, which is why we decided on the strike on the 9th of this month, but at this meeting we did not find consensus as there was no progress", he pointed out, reaffirming the general strike.
The three union centrals unanimously approved, last Saturday, an interpolated general strike starting on March 20, concluding that the government did not respond satisfactorily to their concerns.
Força Sindical, UNTA-Confederação Sindical and Central Geral dos Sindicatos Independentes e Livres de Angola-CGSILA are the three unions that called for the general strike.
The strike will take place in three phases, with a first period of three days between March 20th and 22nd, a second between April 22nd and 30th and a third from June 3rd to 14th, 2024.
The Minister of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security, Teresa Dias, promised, upon leaving the meeting, continued work with the unions "to adjust positions and consolidate a solution here that meets the tripartite objectives: government, employers and trade unions".
"As there was no consensus regarding the Government's proposals, our understanding is that we have space to continue negotiating", stressed the minister, noting that the structuring points of the workers' demands are in the field of public finances.
"And we can't give what we don't have", highlighted Teresa Dias.
"We are presenting our availability, this has been the dynamic. We will continue to work with the unions so that the concerns presented can be addressed from the point of view of sustainability and that is our vision", she concluded.
