In a public note released this Tuesday, AJPD, a non-governmental organization (NGO) for the defense and promotion of human rights, says it is monitoring very closely the country's social, economic and civic environment, “which has been degrading for some time ”.
He adds that the situation is deteriorating with “noticeable impacts on the quality of life of citizens and families” characterized “by poverty and misery”.
The degradation of the social and living conditions of citizens “is a reality experienced, unfortunately”, throughout the national territory, “from which the overwhelming majority of citizens despair without, however, seeing signs of change in the current situation of precariousness on the horizon social and economic”.
The state of social and economic precariousness in which the country is immersed, observes the AJPD, is a consequence of the violation of citizens' economic and social rights.
Força Sindical, National Union of Workers of Angola – Trade Union Confederation (UNTA-CS) and the General Central of Independent and Free Trade Unions of Angola (CGSILA) are the three trade unions that called for a general strike scheduled to begin this Wednesday, March 20.
The trade unions began by demanding an increase in the minimum wage from the current 32,000 kwanzas, to 245,000 kwanzas, a “flexible” proposal, meanwhile, to 100,000 kwanzas, a reduction in the Labor Income Tax to 15 percent and a representative on the board of directors of the Angolan National Institute of Social Security (INSS), “demands” that they say were rejected by the authorities in six negotiating rounds.
The AJPD considered that it is following with great attention the call for a general strike by the union centrals, expressing solidarity with the position taken by Força Sindical, UNTA-CS and CGSILA.
This NGO recalls that strike is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution “which must be respected by public authorities, natural and legal persons governed by private law”.
It also encourages trade unions to remain firm and convinced in the fight “that belongs to everyone” and not to disappoint the expectations of their members.
“The country can only be built with complete respect for the human dignity of the worker”, it is also highlighted in the note signed by jurist Serra Bango, president of AJPD.
The general strike must take place in three phases, with a first period of three days between 20 and 22 March, a second between 22 and 30 April and a third period from 3 to 14 June.
