Luanda - The Government and the Trade Union Federations on Tuesday, in Luanda, reached a consensus on the issues of the demand booklet presented at the end of 2023 to the Government.
The country's three trade union federations, namely “Força Sindical”, UNTA-Trade Union Confederation and the General Central of Independent and Free Trade Unions of Angola (CGSSILA), demanded a salary increase in the Civil Service, an increase in the national minimum wage, a reduction in the Labour Income Tax (IRT) and participation in the management of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).
As part of the negotiations, the parties signed an agreement on a phased wage increase, by 25 percent annually, to be effective from 2025, as well as a national minimum wage of 70,000 kz.
The three-year agreement is expected to be in force until 2027 and is the result of the agglutination of the structuring issues presented by the trade union federations.
According to the Secretary of State for Labour and Social Security, Pedro Filipe, a national minimum wage of 70,000 kwanzas has been set, and micro-enterprises and startups will increase to 50,000 kwanzas.
According to the secretary, companies that already practice a salary of 70 thousand kwanzas will have one year to progressively evolve up to one hundred thousand kwanzas, while those that are below this value will have two years to reach this limit.
He pointed out that the format of defining the municipalities, according to the zones, for the allocation of subsidies remained.
It was also agreed to incorporate a representative of the unions into the Fiscal Council of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), he stressed.
As for the Labour Income Tax (IRT), Pedro Filipe explained that work is underway to change the format of personal taxation, to a more integrated perspective.
In turn, the spokesperson for the Trade Union Federations, Teixeira Cândido, said that despite having reached an agreement, 'they leave the meeting with an understanding, but dissatisfied with not having achieved the terms proposed in the demands presented to the Executive.'
Regarding the third phase of the strike, scheduled for the third of June, Teixeira Cândido said that it is suspended.
The negotiating round was attended by representatives of the sectors of Public Administration, Employment and Social Security, Media, Education, Health, among others. SJ/OHA/DOJ
