Workers strike at Maputo aluminium plant

Hundreds of Mozambican workers began an indefinite strike over wages on Wednesday at the nation's largest firm, the Mozal aluminium smelting plant, in defiance of a sacking threat, news reports said. 'Radio Mozambique' said that Mozambican workers, who comprise 88 percent of the 1,000 workers at Mozal, were demanding increased hazard pay, shift bonuses, subsidies to cover house rents and children's education. The workers, the report noted, also wanted their wages in US dollars rather than in meticais, the Mozambican currency that has devalued markedly in recent years. This is the second strike at Mozal this year. The management has issued an ultimatum to the strikers to return to work immediately or face dismissal, the radio report said.