1 May 2008
Maputo — The minimum wage required to respond to the basic needs of the average five member family is 5,000 meticais (about 200 US dollars) a month, according to Carlos Mucareia, president of Mozambique's largest trade union federation, the OTM.
Mucareia was speaking to reporters on Thursday, after laying a wreath at the Monument to the Mozambican Heroes in Maputo, the start of celebrations of International Workers Day.
The current statutory minimum monthly wage is just 1,645.5 meticais for industry and services, and 1,126.5 meticais for agriculture. The minimum wage is due to rise this year by between 10 and 30 per cent (depending on sector), after an agreement in the Labour Consultative Council (CCT), the tripartite negotiating body between the government, the unions and the employers' associations.
"The current wage scale is far from satisfying workers' needs, even with the wage increase that is planned", said Mucareia. "Studies show that 5,000 meticais would be an acceptable wage. But that's what the studies say, not the resources that are available".
Echoing the government, he said that the current crisis of rising food prices could be faced by increased domestic production. "If our wages are insufficient, then the only alternative left to us is to rely on agricultural production and promote the green revolution", he stressed.
Also present at the ceremony was veteran Mozambican nationalist Marcelino dos Santos. Asked about the current low level of wages, he said "what is important is to decide whether or not we are prepared to accept certain sacrifices, and whether we believe that we are on a march that will eventually liberate us from these sacrifices".
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