(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Privatization of industry and business, and open markets, has been the tune in Mozambique since Frelimo rejected Marxism and advocated the market economy after the end of the civil war in 1990. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank demanded adaptation to the Western market economy for continued support for the reconstruction of the country after two devastating Warrior.
The adaptation is a tough cure, but apparently successful. The country has seen steady growth in recent years. Last year's growth was as much as 12 per cent. According to the trade union figures, inflation reached 16 percent. Thus, most people had reduced purchasing power. Therefore, there is every reason to question how successful the transition to the market economy in Mozambique actually is.
Loss of jobs
A significant consequence of the privatization has been the loss of jobs, whether it is due to rationalisations, hostile acquisitions or simply that the privately owned companies did not face competition from outside. ATM – Organizacao dos Trabalhadores de Mozambique, corresponds to LO in Norway – states that 120.000 jobs have been lost since privatization began. When unemployment today is at 60 percent, it goes without saying that this is a socio-economic disaster.
- 90 percent of the workers in cashew nut production have lost their jobs since the privatization wave started, says Joaquim Fanheiro, Secretary General of OTM. This nut was previously one of the country's most important exports. – 45 percent of the workers in the textile industry are on the streets, almost fifty percent of the people who worked in the railway… I could still, says Fanheiro, but these are enough numbers to illustrate the seriousness of the situation.
Membership number down
ATMs face a number of challenges. – A priority task is to increase our membership, Fanheiro explains. It has been steadily declining since privatization began and people lost their jobs. OTM was at most up to 120.000 members, now only just 90.000 are left. These are divided into 14 different unions. Fanheiro believes, however, that the potential is much greater; 250.000 in the private sector alone. In addition, there is the public and informal sector. – Our goal is to organize 75 percent of all employees, says Fanheiro. – The trade union movement must be strong enough to ensure that most people get a share of the increase in prosperity that is taking place in this country.
Another opportunity to strengthen this struggle is to unite the trade union movement. As the situation is today, it is divided into two different national organizations in addition to the fact that there are several independent unions. – We have started a program so that we can coordinate our efforts and develop common goals for negotiations. The coordinators from the various trade unions and unions meet twice a month, Fanheiro explains.
Control of capital forces
- Priority task number two is to influence the government to change its policy so that it at least introduces some mechanisms to control the capital forces that now have free rein, Fanheiro continues. This is one of the reasons why the trade union movement will remain in the tripartite cooperation with the government and employers.
- This means that ordinary people have a voice in the government, and we know that the government listens to us. We have managed to thwart the privatization of telecom, water supply and power supply. This means that we have saved jobs.
However, Fanheiro is the first to admit that the collaboration is not a dance on roses. For example, the government has failed to pass a law that gives employees in the public sector the right to organize. The law has been on the stairs for several years, but has not yet been passed.
- OTM will put power behind the requirement to pass and implement the law on organization in the public sector. It must be completed by the end of 2004. Otherwise, we will take the case to the ILO, says Fanheiro combatively.
With its more than 140.000 employees, the public sector represents a potential for membership that will radically strengthen the trade union's position in the country.
Sustainable development
The third priority is to help make the Mozambican economy more sustainable. This will be done through the formalization of the informal sector. Here, the trade union movement is conscious of its social responsibility.
Today, the informal sector is the fastest growing sector in the country. Thirty percent of the capital Maputo's revenue comes from this sector. These can be significantly increased if the sector is formalized and workers start paying taxes. At the same time, they will share in the benefits of welfare schemes and social safety nets.
