Africa-Press – Angola. The Plenary of the National Assembly (AN) “failed”, this Thursday, two requests from the UNITA parliamentary group, which intended to address in the hemicycle “the situation of the general workers’ strike and the vote to welcome social consultation”.
The first document received 69 votes in favor, 95 against and no abstentions, while the second, relating to social consultation, received 73 votes in favor, 95 against and two abstentions.
Deputy Virgílio Tchiova, from the MPLA parliamentary group, justified the veto of UNITA’s requests because he understood that the AN “cannot” be interfering in a process that is under negotiation.
“We, as AN, are a sovereign body and another sovereign body, which is the Executive, is in negotiations with the unions and so we must not create noise in this process”, highlighted the deputy.
He said the issue of the right to strike, the demands of unions and the right to increased wages for Angolan workers was not at issue.
UNITA’s position
The UNITA parliamentary group considers the matter to be of relevant public interest and needs urgent treatment.
Deputy Américo Chivukuvuku regretted the veto of the requests submitted for approval by the Plenary, before the agenda period, at the 4th Ordinary Plenary Meeting of the AN, considering that “no one can currently survive on 32 thousand kwanzas monthly”.
Therefore, UNITA called on the Executive to work with the trade unions to find a solution that meets the needs and interests of workers.
The national minimum wage in Angola is set at 32,181.15 kwanzas.
The union centrals decided, in the General Workers’ Assembly, to declare a general strike, in an interpolated manner, with the first phase from 20 to 22 March 2024, the second from 22 to 30 April 2024 and the third from 3 to 14 June of this year.
At issue is a statement of demands presented to the Executive last year, containing the central concerns of workers, including the increase in the National Minimum Wage (SMN) and the salary adjustment in the Public Service, which have not been met until now.
The unions also called for an increase in subsidies processed by the National Social Security Institute (INSS), as well as a reduction in the Labor Income Tax (IRT), among other demands.
They demand a 100% salary adjustment in the Public Service and a SMN of 100 thousand kwanzas, against the initial proposal of 250% and 245 thousand kwanzas, respectively.
For the IRT, they want a reduction to 15% followed by a change in the percentages relating to death subsidies, isolation, house and installation rent, as well as the participation of unions in the management of the INSS.
According to the union spokesman, Teixeira Cândidato, the demands result from the rise in the country’s standard of living and aim to recover families’ purchasing power.
For its part, the Government says it is open to dialogue and promises to continue working with the unions to reach a consensus and find solutions that meet the “tripartite objectives”, that is, those of the State, employers and trade unions.
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