Social climate: The government presents progress and calls for continued consultations
Following a general strike announced by trade union organizations on October 20, 21 and 22, the government is calling for consultation while highlighting commitments already made.
During a press conference held on October 19, several ministers of the Republic reaffirmed the government’s desire to continue consultations with the social partners. They presented the results of the executions, detailing the budgetary measures undertaken.
Meeting on Monday at the President Mamadou-Dia Administrative Building, the government calls for defusing the threat of a general strike. Various ministers who spoke favored a pedagogy based on the following levers: reporting on commitments made, announcing measures and keeping channels of dialogue open.
At the heart of this approach, the National Social Stability Pact. Of the 84 planned activities, 35 have been fully carried out and 25 are in progress, according to the Minister of Civil Service and Labor, Mamadou Lamine Dianté. In National Education, Moustapha Mamba Guirassy highlights the execution of 99% of the memorandum of understanding signed in April 2026. The Minister of Justice, Me Moussa Sarr, for his part, reports an execution rate close to 90% of the agreement concluded with the workers, despite the persistence of the dispute over the reclassification of agents.
Added to these assessments are the budgetary announcements intended to relieve businesses, with 490 billion FCFA of arrears settled in 2025 and an envelope of 300 billion planned for 2026, according to the minister attached to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, in charge of the Budget, Bassirou Sarr.
In transport, the authorities assure that no strike slogan has been launched, while the Minister of Energy and Oil, Dr Abdourahmane Diouf calls on the SENELEC unions to favor consultation on the question of bonuses linked to results.
The Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Boubacar Camara, specified regarding the housing allowance, estimated at 8 billion FCFA, the government is assessing the financing capacities of the structures concerned before considering, if necessary, a supplement from the Ministry of Finance. A progressive payment remains possible. For the regularization of the legal framework of Higher Institutes of Professional Education (ISEP), the four decrees implementing the orientation law of January 2024 are being finalized, after integration of observations from State services.
The Minister of Health, Dr Ibrahima Sy, announced the finalization, shortly, of the recruitment of 2,500 agents, as well as the integration of 1,111 agents from health programs and the recruitment of 270 midwives. The reclassification of 878 senior health technicians has also been initiated.
Concerning the housing allowance, estimated at 8.8 billion FCFA for 7,365 agents, progressive coverage is being studied at the Budget level. With nearly 90 meetings with the unions in two years, the minister calls for the continuation of negotiations, the lifting of the strike call and the maintenance of emergency care.
The objective is to favor a preventive approach. The proposal by the Prime Minister, Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô, to observe a three-month moratorium on strike movements reflects the government’s stated desire to give time for this to materialize.
A strike that could affect several sectors
A three-day strike (October 21, 22 and 23) could, if it materializes, disrupt teaching, slow down the functioning of the administration and justice, affect certain economic activities and weaken the income of the workers concerned. In strategic sectors, notably energy and public services, disruptions could also have repercussions on businesses and users.
The main union actors behind the announced strike movements are the Union Front for the Defense of Workers (FSDT) and the G7, the inter-union group bringing together seven unions representing education. Unions in the health and energy sectors are also mentioned among the organizations having announced strike calls.
Ultimately, the government’s press conference will have made it possible to present arguments and reaffirm the authorities’ availability to find solutions. It remains to transform this call for responsibility into a concrete compromise.
O.BA
