The position of the National Union of Workers of Angola – Trade Union Confederation (UNTA-CS), the General Central of Independent and Free Unions of Angola (CGSILA) and Força Sindical is set out in a joint statement of demands, to which Lusa had access.
"Over time, the Angolan trade union movement has constantly expressed its views on the degrading situation of workers who are going through immense difficulties, embodied in the accumulation of the legacy of galloping inflation", say the unions.
They also point to the "high" level of unemployment, the low level of real family income, the "scary" devaluation of the kwanza, the slowdown and instability of economic activity and "ill-conceived" fiscal policy as reasons for their demands.
The union bodies also denounce what they consider to be "inhumane modern labor slavery in Angola practiced by national and foreign companies".
According to UNTA-CS, CGSILA and Força Sindical, the withdrawal of the State subsidy for gasoline "aggravated the socioeconomic life of workers in all aspects in the worst way, due to the fact that it was not accompanied by other complementary measures , which should mitigate the negative impact of its application".
They recall that during the celebrations of May 1st, International Workers' Day, they presented a statement of their concerns to the holder of executive power and President, João Lourenço, and "there was no statement" from him.
Therefore, in this statement of demands, they defend the updating of the national minimum wage to 245,000 kwanzas, "to correspond with the cost of living, taking into account accumulated inflation".
The reduction of Labor Income Tax (IRT) in the order of 10 percent, the practical implementation of isolation and installation subsidies in all locations and the updating of breastfeeding, funeral, death and child benefit allowances family are also included in the demands of the unions.
The trade unions also defend the shared management of funds from the National Social Security Institute (INSS), "giving it necessary transparency", the institutionalization of unemployment benefits and "demand" the end of "labor slavery" in Angola.
UNTA-CS, CGSILA and Força Sindical "demand" that the points contained in the list of demands be satisfied in the current economic year 2023, admitting to activate the strike law after that period.
