Maputo, Mozambique — Workers at the Mafambisse sugar mill in the central Mozambican province of Sofala have threatened to go on strike starting Tuesday, the Maputo daily "Noticias" reported Tuesday.

The workers, defying their union, have called for increased "allowances" for technical staff. They also want the employer to fulfill promises which they claim were made in previous negotiations, the paper said.

According to the daily, a source at the Sugar Workers Trade Union in Sofala warned, however, that if the strike went ahead, it would be illegal because the union did not sanction it.

On the other hand, the source criticised the Mafambisse management for the lack of progress in the talks. He warned that the management would be held responsible if the strike degenerated into violence.

"I am worried. There has been nothing concrete so far on the part of the employer. We want the employer to make his promises in writing, not verbally," he said.

The company's assistant general manager, Antonio Machado, brushed aside the strike threat. He said that negotiations are still going on.

"It is a small group who want to go on strike to solve their own problems," he said.

The Mafambisse sugar mill was privatised in 1996, when 75 percent of the shares were sold to South African interests. The other 25 percent is in the hands of the Mozambican state.