Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Mozambican government intends to limit new enrolments into the public service until 2028, with only a few exceptions, as well as accelerating retirements, among other measures to cut spending.
In terms of “wage bill control,” “limiting new hires (with specific exceptions)” and “strengthening audits and proof of life” are among measures considered priorities for implementation from 2026 to 2028, according to the recently approved Medium-Term Fiscal Scenario (CFMP).
These measures aim to “reduce the weight of the wage bill from 11.9% of GDP [Gross Domestic Product] in 2026 to 10.5% in 2028,” the document approved by the Council of Ministers on June 24 reads.
The “acceleration of the retirement process” in the civil service, or the “revision of the criteria for granting the location allowance”, as well as the “50% reduction in the percentage of civil and special seniority allowances”, are other priority measures.
Furthermore, the Medium-Term Fiscal Scenario defines as “structural measures” in this process, the “rationalization of generalized allowances, with gradual replacement by targeted and more effective transfers.”
Also mentioned are the “consolidation and full operationalization of the State Financial Administration System (SISTAFE), with integration of all subsystems and improvement of information flows for decision-making” and reforms in human resources management and the incentive system in the public sector.
Public spending continues to grow
The document forecasts that total public spending, including financial operations, will “continue to grow in nominal terms,” rising from 530.2 billion meticais (€7.048 billion) in 2026 to 606.1 billion meticais (€8.057 billion) in 2028.
“As a percentage of GDP, total spending is on a stable trajectory of 32%, reflecting the commitment to fiscal consolidation and prudent public finance management, compared to 35.0% in 2024,” the CFMP states.
Mozambique expects to spend €2.907 billion on civil servant salaries in 2025, an increase of 1.3% in one year, but the government will limit each new hire to three exits, according to the Economic and Social Plan and State Budget (PESOE).
Mozambique only authorizes hiring 4,142 workers for the civil service in 2025
According to the PESOE, approved by parliament in May, the total cost of salaries and wages amounted to 202.859 billion meticais (€2.811 billion) last year and is expected to grow to 205.55 billion meticais (€2.907 billion) this year, the equivalent to 13.3% of the estimated GDP for 2025.
The Mozambican government’s spending on salaries and wages grew by approximately 40% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to government data, which last June estimated the total number of civil servants and government agents in Mozambique at 370,000.
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