Maputo, 22 April 2025 – In a significant step towards revitalising social dialogue in Mozambique’s public sector, the Sindicato Nacional da Função Pública (SINAFP), PSI’s only affiliate in the country, has agreed in principle with other public sector unions and associations to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement marks a shared commitment to cooperate closely and present a united front in negotiations with the government.

The MoU sets out a framework to collectively represent the interests of all public sector workers, including teachers, health workers, and road employees. The organisations have agreed to defend workers’ rights to better wages, improved working conditions such as fair treatment for overtime and seniority, and protections against discrimination and occupational diseases. They also pledged to push for compliance with national labour laws and international standards, and to promote meaningful social dialogue through a unified voice.

Eight organisations participated in the meeting and endorsed a draft Terms of Reference for the MoU. They also committed to reaching out to other associations that were not present but who represent public sector workers, inviting them to join the collective. The move for a coordinated approach stems from the widespread recognition that social dialogue mechanisms in Mozambique have largely failed public sector workers.

SINAFP, intended to be the mother union for public sector employees, has faced bureaucratic hurdles in securing registration and formal recognition since 2021. These challenges have severely weakened its capacity to function effectively, threatening the union’s very survival. In the absence of a strong, centralised representative voice, workers have had to contend with increasingly difficult conditions, while the employer has operated unchallenged in setting terms of employment.

Over time, frustration has grown, leading to the emergence of various associations formed by workers themselves in a bid to be heard. This proliferation of fragmented representation — often even within the same sector — has undermined collective bargaining power and played into the hands of the government. In recent years, there has also been a surge in spontaneous strikes, driven by intolerable working conditions. These strikes, while uncoordinated and risky, reflect the deep level of frustration among workers. In Mozambique, where striking in the public sector is illegal and carries the threat of dismissal or demotion, such actions represent a last resort for workers already struggling under high levels of poverty and unemployment.

Participants at the meeting concluded that the current approach of fragmented, individualised demands to the same employer must end. They agreed that unity and solidarity are essential to restoring worker power and reclaiming the right to negotiate fair conditions. To this end, a task team was established to engage directly with the new Minister of State Administration and Public Service. The group aims to address the root causes of dysfunction in labour relations, particularly the failure of successive governments to recognise SINAFP as a legitimate representative of public sector workers.

This collective effort offers a renewed opportunity to build a strong, unified movement capable of securing dignity, rights, and justice for all public sector workers in Mozambique. PSI stands in full support of this critical step forward.