A strike in Guinea-Bissau that was to have lasted five days ended on Monday, the day it started, after labour unions reached an agreement with the government, news sources reported. The workers had protested against the non-payment of salary arrears and had called on the state to give them free medical care and food subsidies.
Except for the Presidency and the Prime Minister's Office, public services were paralysed on Monday as the strike was followed by most civil servants, some of whom had not been paid for as long as 12 months.
The government agreed on Monday night to begin paying the arrears within two weeks and to create conditions for providing the workers with free medical care and food subsidies, according to Portuguese news agency, Lusa.
IRIN coverage on Guinea-Bissau
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