UNITA welcomes the general strike in Angola, calling for a review of wage policies

The opposition parliamentary group UNITA welcomed the start of a general strike in the public sector this Wednesday, believing that Angola “definitely” needs to review its pay policy.

“The country definitely needs to reconsider the fundamentals of wage policy for employers and employees in the context of the production and distribution of the national product. Current policies only protect the stability of employers and do little to protect the stability of workers’ wages,” was considered by the parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

UNITA MPs promise to submit a request to discuss the issue at the plenary session of the Angolan Parliament, convened on Thursday and Friday, with the aim of finding fair and economically sustainable solutions.

The largest opposition party also announced it would propose a vote, welcoming social consultation and calling on the executive and trade unions to engage in “deep and constructive dialogue” aimed at finding fair and lasting solutions to the problems facing the economy.

Recalling that the right to strike and freedom of association are constitutional instruments of participatory democracy, in a statement on the general strike, the first phase of which began this Wednesday and will last until Friday, UNITA said that society “cannot continue to accept this.” It doesn’t matter if some people are always paid the maximum and others are always paid the minimum.”

When the state “allows and forces society” to pay prices for the products and services it consumes based on an exchange rate, and does not force it to pay wages to workers based on the same exchange rate, UNITA notes, “this is done to protect the stability of the remuneration of finance capital.” due to the instability of human capital rewards.”

“Instead of justice, injustice is promoted. The UNITA parliamentary group understands that this policy is the main reason for the strike now called for the 20th, 21st, 22nd and other subsequent stages,” the statement said.

Higher wages for civil servants, an increase in the national minimum wage and a reduction in the income tax (IRT) are among the demands of trade unions, which have opted for a general strike over dissatisfaction with proposals from the Angolan government.

UNITA calls on the Angolan leadership and all forces in the country to discuss the problem “in depth” and find a “fair, economically viable and socially just” solution.

Força Sindical, the National Union of Workers of Angola – Confederação Sindical (UNTA-CS) and the General Center of Independent and Free Trade Unions of Angola (CGSILA) are the three unions that called for a general strike.

The UNITA parliamentary group also called on the MPLA (Power), the party that supports the Angolan executive, to seek a balance between the remuneration rate of financial capital, “which it holds today as master, and the remuneration rate of human capital.” including workers and peasants, necessary and inseparable for the production of national wealth and ensuring social stability.”