Mozambican health workers extend strike suspension by 15 days

The Association of United and Solidarity Medical Workers of Mozambique (APSUSM) announced this Monday the extension by 15 days of the suspension of the strike in the sector in order to continue negotiations and in light of the turbulent situation after the elections.

“No recovery [da greve] for another 15 days to give the government a chance to respond to political tensions without confusing us. Because the political tensions of October 11 ultimately interrupted the dialogue between APSUSM and the government,” nurse Anselmo Mujave, president of the association, said at a press conference in Maputo.

APSUSM announced on August 27 that it was suspending the strike that began a week earlier until November 5 to allow for negotiations with the government.

On October 11, Mozambique held local elections, which, according to the National Electoral Commission (CNE), brought victory to the Mozambique Liberation Front (the ruling Frelimo party) in 64 of 65 municipalities. However, street demonstrations promoted by the opposition continue against these results across the country, which are also criticized by civil society, observers and non-governmental organizations.

“Since health workers are still not satisfied with the points presented at the dialogue table, and in order not to mix demands with the election results, health workers will wait peacefully at their workplaces until the situation normalizes for another 15 days. , until November 18, 2023,” said the president of APSUSM.

Anselmo Mujave guaranteed that there will be no “resumption” of demonstrations by these professionals for the next 15 days, admitting that 45% of the demands have been met: “We hope that all the points that can be quickly resolved have already been achieved. Some are already moving at a good pace.”

In July and August, Mozambique’s national health system faced a crisis caused by staff strikes, called first by the Medical Association of Mozambique (AMM), which also suspended its protest, and then by the Association of United Health Workers and Solidarity of Mozambique. (APSUSM), which also requires improved working conditions for other health care workers.

APSUSM’s president said the Aug. 27 decision was the result of a call by Mozambique’s head of state, Filipe Nyusi, for space to negotiate with the new government team as it tries to stop the collapse of the national health system.

Among other things, APSUSM, which covers about 65,000 technicians, orderlies and nurses, requires the government to provide hospitals with medicines that patients in some cases have to purchase, purchase hospital beds, address “food shortages” in health posts, and equip machines ambulances with emergency materials for quick life support or reusable personal protective equipment, the shortage of which “forces employees to purchase them out of their own pockets.”

Also at the end of August, the Mozambique Medical Association (AMM) announced the suspension until October 2 of the strike that had been ongoing since July 10 to allow space for negotiations with a new negotiating team led by the Prime Minister of Mozambique. , Adriano Maleyan.

However, AMM has not commented on the question of whether the strike will be resumed or not for more than a month.

AMM previously considered that the position of the Mozambique executive showed a lack of interest in solving the problem in the health system, threatening to paralyze the minimum services that the class provided during the strike of those professionals who are protesting primarily against wage cuts, as part of the application of the new table salaries of civil servants and lack of overtime pay.

The implementation of the new salary schedule in the civil service is met with strong opposition from various professional sectors, and delays and pay cuts have been criticized by various segments of the Mozambican government apparatus.