José Severino considered it natural that the Government is reformulating many laws, noting that the new LGT, in force since Tuesday, has always been seen by industrialists "as modern, with a focus very closely linked to defending the quality of life of workers in companies".
"The problem is that the economy is not doing well (...). The economy has not recovered from the covid-19 crisis (...), which is why the issue of the minimum wage is also being discussed," said José Severino in statements to Lusa.
For the leader of national industrialists, the country needs to create jobs to guarantee the sustainability of families, "composed of many members, but perhaps only one is employed".
"We have to create a lot of jobs and this law will not facilitate job creation", noted the economist, noting that he had warned, when discussing the law in parliament, that the majority of the country's economy was developed by small and medium-sized companies. companies.
"And they have no ability to resist this law", he stressed, insisting that the labor law, which repeals the previous legislation approved in 2015, brings greater "breath" to the worker and not to the economy.
The president of the AIA recalled that the country's biggest problem currently is employment, with a very high unemployment rate among youth, regretting that the Angolan economy has not recovered post-pandemic.
The employment contract for an indefinite period, in light of the provisions of this LGT, becomes a rule and for a fixed period an exception in the component of the conclusion of the contract, contrary to the repealed legislation that left it to the discretion of the parties.
The law, published in the Official Gazette in December 2023, eliminates the distinction between company size as a criterion for defining the duration of fixed-term employment contracts.
José Severino, also an economist, also defended balance in the implementation of the new LGT, stating that, in the field of employability, "many millions want everything and the few employers are unable to meet expectations".
"That's the problem. Because it's the employers who have wealth who create the jobs, create wages and create economic activity," he noted.
Severino also pointed to the need to "accelerate" the credit regime for companies, applauding the reinforcement of capital to state entities that provide financing, namely the Support Fund for Agricultural Development, Credit Guarantee Fund, Fundo Activo of Angolan Venture Capital and the Development Bank of Angola.
"Therefore, this credit regime must be accelerated so that companies can create wealth and be able to organize themselves. The law defends the interests of workers, but it is clearly not a law that makes life easier for businesspeople and we issued this warning", concluded the AIA leader.
In the area of leave, the legislation introduces complementary paternity leave of seven working days, consecutive or interpolated, at the birth of the child, but without remuneration, also introducing the right for the father to replace the newborn's hand while enjoying the maternity leave, in case of proven physical or mental incapacity or death.
