Mozambique: Workplace accidents caused 88 deaths over past five years

The Mozambican Labor Ministry recorded, over the last five years, 88 deaths as a result of workplace accidents. According to Labour Ministry spokesperson Ariel Comé, who was speaking on Tuesday, in Maputo, at a seminar on Occupational Health and Safety, the construction and mining sectors are considered the most critical in terms of workplace safety. “In 2025 alone, 16 workplace accidents were recorded, which means that we must intensify prevention, inspection and awareness-raising actions in workplaces”, he said.

Come explained that, in order to prevent further cases, the Ministry has been implementing reporting mechanisms and deploying inspection teams to intervene in risky situations, but “not all accidents are reported to the competent authorities.” “The involvement of society and the media is fundamental for reporting risky situations and contributing to the reduction in accidents,” he said. “The protection of the physical and mental integrity of workers is fundamental for sustainable development. We need to ensure greater accountability from employers, because no economic gain justifies the loss of a single human life in the workplace”, he said. The Secretary-General of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Mozambique (CONSILMO), Jeremias Timana, also warned about the exposure of workers to physical and psychosocial risks “that affect their health and productivity.” “There are workers who return home exhausted and with compromised health, which demonstrates the need to strengthen protection measures,” he said.