Mozambique Oil & Gas: Dozens of foreigners working illegally in Sasol Petroleum Temane – @Verdade reports

At least 28 foreigners were found working illegally at the Sasol Petroleum Temane operations, a company that has been exploring natural gas in Inhassoro district  for 18 years catalyzing little development in Inhambane province and generating little revenue for the treasury. 

In addition to the appetite for foreign workers at the expense of Mozambicans, the company which is a subsidiary of the South African multinational of the same name continues not doing business with local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and paid less taxes in 2016 .

A statement from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MITESS) revealed in last weekend that the General Labor Inspectorate (IGT), “under the control of labor law and working conditions, carried out in Inhambane province, suspended a total of 28 foreign workers who were working in the country illegally, without due regard for the principles legally established by law in Mozambique on the standards of skilled foreign labor contracting. ”

“The brigade of inspectors measured the employment status of 107 workers, 28 of these expatriates were suspended in companies subcontracted by Sasol for not having any document work permit, while 79 showed short communication. These can continue to work to clarify the facts,” says the document.

@Verdade newspaper contacted the South African multinational and the company clarified via email that “it is committed to comply with the laws and regulations of Mozambique and will continue to maximize the use of Mozambican citizens in our operations and projects.”

“We expect the same of our contractors and subcontractors. In this regard, we are working closely with our contractors and local authorities to ensure that this matter is resolved quickly, ” added Sasol.

But in addition to resorting  to illegal foreign workers, @Verdade found that of 147 Mozambicans who are direct employees of Sasol, the company employs 166 employees in total, the vast majority are not even from Inhambane province to confirm data from the National Statistics Institute , which indicate that between 2008 and 2015 the “manhambanas” who now  work  in extractive industry rose from 0.2 percent to 0.8 percent.