UNITA warned this Thursday of the fact that Angolan families are increasingly impoverished, without hope and in almost widespread destitution, as a result of an economic disaster characterized by long periods of galloping inflation.
Inflation “erodes your purchasing power, while wages remain stagnant. Exploitation and misery have become the norm and many Angolans today do not live, they only survive with great suffering, entire families, young and old impoverished and without hope”, he said.
The politician, who was speaking at a press conference about the economic and social situation in Angola and the general workers' strike, said that the country's current socioeconomic context gave rise to many protest movements, due to the “ineptitude” of employers.
According to Raul Tati, workers' demands are received with “negligence and empty promises”, noting that during President João Lourenço's government inflation soared, but salary updates were derisory.
“Leaving workers increasingly impoverished. Many are living in destitution, with no prospect of improvement”, he stressed.
It is recalled that the trade unions decided to suspend the third phase of the general strike, which was scheduled to begin next week, following an agreement with the Government, which will be applied until 2027.
The Three-Year Agreement for the Valorization of Workers through Social Dialogue (2025-2027) was signed on Tuesday night, in Luanda, following a marathon negotiation lasting almost ten hours between the Government and the trade unions, including the update of salaries national minimum and adjustment of civil service salaries to 25 percent.
For Raul Tati, the aforementioned agreement may not satisfactorily represent the interests of workers, admitting, however, that it could “partially mitigate the sharp wage erosion that has been observed”.
“For this reason, the unions have decided to suspend the general strike for now. The idea of suspending and not lifting the strike is rooted in the fact that unionists have well-founded suspicions about the seriousness and good faith of the executive,” he noted.
He praised, on the other hand, the agreement between the Government and unions, considering that if the spirit of regular consultation continues, it will enable substantial salary increases “which will not only help alleviate the financial burden on workers and their families”.
But, he also highlighted, they will stimulate domestic consumption, thus boosting economic activity and contributing to the country's sustainable growth.
“However, it is crucial that these salary increases are accompanied by measures that promote productivity and competitiveness, thus ensuring long-term sustainability”, concluded the prime minister of the UNITA shadow government.
