The Organization of Mozambican Workers (OTM), a central union, today called for the intervention of the Minister of Labor, Margarida Talapa, to unblock compensation and salary arrears at Companhia do Búzi, a sugar company in the center of the country.
"OTM is concerned about Búzi's situation and we are asking those in charge to solve this problem," indicated Bento Gotine, executive secretary of OTM in Sofala province, after meeting with the governor.
The sugar company "has been paralyzed for several years, mainly due to obsolete equipment," he said, stressing that the firm is not complying with the clauses for the payment of severance and salary arrears to 256 workers.
The agreement was made this year and provided for compensation in three tranches, in April, July and December, but only the first tranche was paid in full, Gotine said.
On the other hand, 75 of the 256 workers were chosen to maintain some activities, without work contracts and without wages for seven months.
"The 75 workers received their termination letters and today they are working illegally," he described.
Margarida Talapa referred that the problem of the sugar mill was also "addressed" in meetings she had with the governor and with the provincial secretary of state.
According to him, the authorities are taking steps to investigate the situation.
Lusa Agency