Cape Verde launches new project to normalize the lives of around 5,000 precariously ill people

The Cape Verdean government announced today the launch of a new programme to regularize some five thousand precarious employment relationships in the public administration.

The second plan to regularize precarious employment was approved this Tuesday at the Council of Ministers, “The government intends to regularize the situation of about 5,000 employees who perform functions in the public administration, many of whom have been working for more than 20 years”, said Edna Oliveira, Minister of State Modernization and Public Management.

At a press conference in Praia, the minister, in his capacity as spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the second scheme would cover all technicians, assistants and operational support staff who carry out permanent functions and responsibilities in institutions of direct and indirect central management.

The diploma also developed procedures to guarantee entry for a group of employees who use scanners at airports for customs checks, baggage check-in and who have been on fixed-term employment contracts for more than 13 years.

It also aims to regularize the situation of staff at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment whose employment situation has been “very precarious” for more than 15 years and who are unable to receive social benefits.

The measure is also intended to cover teachers, doctors and nurses performing their duties, whether in general or special regime professions.

The minister stressed that in addition to “career development, the program aims to provide these employees with stability, ensuring their access to public administration through open competition, both in general and special regime professions”.

All covered employees have 30 days from the date of diploma issuance to submit their applications. After this stage, the covered personnel will be identified, a competition will be held and the appointment or hiring process will take place.

The Regularization Program for Precarious Employment, established in 2021, was intended to cover only skilled workers linked to the public administration under an employment contract, but a “significant portion” of employees did not benefit.