Paulina Quintao – The Secretariat of State for Vocational Training, Policy and Employment (SEPFOPE) registered 198 complaints regarding labour disputes in the eight months between January and August this year.
National Directorate for Working Relationships (DNRT) chief Angelo dos Santos Veloso said they received complaints from workers every day.
"They lodge complaints about wages and contracts and such," he said. "Almost every day we will get five complaints."
About 100 cases had been resolved while the remaining complaints awaited an outcome. Some complaints had been withdrawn and others were sent to the arbitration committee. He said the role of the DNRT was to conduct mediation but not to force outcomes on workers or employers.
"Any complicated problems should be sent to the arbitration committee for them to resolve," he said.
These complicated cases primarily concerned companies accused of paying workers less than the government mandated minimum wage of $1,015, as well as contract disputes.
Member of Parliament Antonio Ximenes Serpa called on SEPFOPE to raise awareness of labour laws with employers and workers so they were aware for their rights and obligations. He said wrongful dismissal was a common complaint.
"I took a complaint from a worker who said they signed a contract with an international company which employed them until 2015 but the contract was terminated early, which is wrong," he said.