Luanda — The achievement of peace in Angola, following the signing of a deal on April 2002, has enabled a government stronger social action in favour of the country's people of arts.

In six years of political, military and economic stability, the country's cultural authorities produced a number of laws to meet the basic needs of the artists, with a special focus on the recent creation of the Retirement Pension for creators with more than 35 years of career or 65 of age.

The Government, under a protocol signed between the Ministry of Public Administration, Employment and Social Security (Mapess) and the National Union of Artists and Composers (UNAC), will start granting a reform allowance equivalent to Usd 600 to the artists.

In the first phase, the scheme will cater for 101 creators, all registered with UNAC.

This Government move involving all cultural activities (music, dance, theatre, literature, plastic arts, fashion and others), was much welcomed by the acting chairman of the organisation, Maneco Vieira Dias, who said this has brightened social situation of the class.