The bonus is the equivalent of an extra month’s payment of the basic wage, and so it is colloquially known as “the 13th month”. Levi claimed that the government had already made it clear that, if there was sufficient money in the state budget to pay the bonus, then that would be announced “by the relevant bodies”. “When we have a solution for the 13th month, then we shall announce it”, Levi said.
Although she seemed to leave the door open for a possible change of heart by the government, Levi also declared “so far there is no 13th month”. Announcing decisions taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) earlier in the day, Tivane said the government will pay 40 per cent of the 13th month to its own employees, in two instalments, one in January, and one in February. The February payment will be made to state employees earning the minimum wage, and to other low earners.
This will include most teachers and health workers. State workers at the higher end of the wage scale will be paid their bonus in February. The Prime Minister’s statements last week, implying here will be no 13th month, led to considerable discontent.
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It is unlikely that the 40 per cent compromise announced by Tivane will be enough to calm the large number of workers who protested that their household budgets depended on receiving the 13th month. Some sectors, notably the Mozambican Association of United Health Workers (APSUSM) had threatened to bring the health service to collapse, unless the government agreed to pay the 13th month in full.
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