The Angolan government has put forward a proposal to increase the salaries of civil servants by 10% in 2027. However, trade unions deemed this figure 'too low,' considering the agreement reached in 2024, which stipulated a cumulative increase of 100% over three years.
The parties met today in Luanda to assess the Three-Year Labor Cost Increase Agreement, concluded between the Angolan Government and union centers. The meeting aimed to discuss the salary increase for 2027 for public servants, as well as the introduction of a medical mutual aid product and other issues.
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Public Administration, Labor, and Social Protection, Teresa Dias, announced the presentation of a 10% proposal to raise the salaries of public sector employees in 2027. Furthermore, a new medical mutual aid initiative for workers was presented, which will take effect from January of next year and will impact the General State Budget (OGE).
Teresa Dias specified that thanks to the State Civil Service Social Security Fund, which was previously inactive, employees will receive medical insurance, with priority given to those who are not currently benefiting from this support. The Minister emphasized that the management of this structure is currently being decided, and it should be capitalized using OGE funds.
According to the Minister, 'union representatives positively received the Government's initiative through MAPTSS.' She added that 'they understood that all these innovations are welcome because we are talking about a product that greatly affects every employee's budget; we are talking about health, all employees will receive medical insurance starting in January, this is important.'
Nevertheless, she noted that only an internal discussion among the unions remains to decide on this 10% 'upgrade,' as they felt they did not have the authority to finalize this proposal at the meeting, believing the Government could make efforts to add a little more.
The department head also reported that the Three-Year Agreement is 80% implemented, and some points remain to be realized. The Government aims to ensure the sustainability of the adopted measures so they are not revoked.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Confederation of Independent and Free Trade Unions of Angola (CG-SILA), Francisco Jacinto, reminded that the 2024 agreement provided for a 100% salary increase. He noted that in 2025, the Government provided 25%, and in 2026, 10%.
Francisco Jacinto stressed that in 2026, with only a 10% increase, the Government raised the issue agreed upon by the unions regarding the updating of categories for more than 70,000 employees under a special regime. He stated that 'more than 5,000 employees cannot retire due to these outdated categories, risking leaving with very low salaries, as well as other situations presented to us by the Government.'
Regarding the 10% proposal for 2027, the union leader stated that the Government's arguments repeat those from 2026 and 'are unsuitable.' He continued: 'But there is another issue: the commitment was 100%; they gave 25%, plus 10% is 35%; the Government says this is enough to exceed 40%, which is untrue. Even if we talk about 45% towards 100%, there is still about 50% missing, which is what we must discuss.'
Francisco Jacinto emphasized that the 10% proposal would be passed to union members to ascertain their opinion on the process, after which the position would be conveyed to the Government. He concluded: 'We consider this too low compared to what is still needed to fulfill 100%; it is very far from that, even with a possible negotiation procedure, I think 10% is too little compared to what we expected.'