Speaking to Lusa, the secretary general of the confederation said that this is "a sad day" in view of the "dark future" of Angolan workers, whose conditions have been getting worse, especially since the approval of the General Labor Law in 2015.
"There is no joy in celebrating and living in a country where freedom and democracy are not respected, where there is a kidnapping of rights and an attempt to prevent the exercise of union activity. The State structures are allergic to union activity", criticized Francisco Jacinto.
The leader of CGSILA, which represents 15 national unions and 40 local committees of companies mainly linked to industry, said that Angola "is democratic in terms of the Constitution", but passes laws that violate the rights of citizens, pointing to the approved Labor Law in 2015 to "protect business interests".
"In Angola there is no distinction between rulers and businessmen, they were the ones who wanted to approve this law that contributed to the degradation of the economic and social conditions of workers", he underlined.
The result is the "constant legal and labor conflict" with strikes that have dragged on for more than 60 days, he stressed, exemplifying with classes such as teachers, doctors and nurses.
"There is a lot of discontent, not a single worker is satisfied," he told Lusa.
He also accused the Government of trying to limit the exercise of trade union activity through the new Labor Procedure Code that is being discussed in the National Assembly and which includes an article that allows companies to challenge union decisions.
Angola generally approved, in February, a new General Labor Law, which will still have to go through the specialized committees before final approval.
Despite this, the CGSILA marked the date with parades in Uíge and Luanda where, according to Francisco Jacinto, around 10,000 members of the Union Central were present.
In a statement to which Lusa had access, the CGSILA demands from the Executive several measures that promote a fair wage and job stability, including the adoption of a national minimum wage and equal treatment of national and expatriate workers with regard to remuneration and relief of the tax burden.
He also called for an end to acts of intimidation against workers and trade unionists, an end to attacks on trade union headquarters and the cessation of the National Police's intervention in the internal affairs of trade unions and in lawfully declared strikes, and a return to dialogue within the framework of the National Council for Social Dialogue.
