Mozambique

The work injury regulatory framework was introduced in Mozambique before independence in 1975, while laws on old age, disability and survivors, family allowances and sickness and maternity were enacted after independence. The Programa Subsídio Social Básico (Basic Social Subsidy Programme) marked the beginning of social assistance in Mozambique in 1990. The programme aims to provide basic assistance to extremely poor people who are incapable of working, promote the development of human capital, and improve participants’ access to basic social services. In 2016, the programme had 366,000 participant households. In 2011, the Direct Social Action Programme was introduced originally as an in-kind food benefit to people in situations of malnourishment and food insecurity. It reached 54,000 households by 2016. The labour-intensive public works programme was introduced in 2012 and paid an average of US$44.18 per month. In 2016, the programme reached 57,400 participant households. As at 2015, the social assistance spending was 0.77 percent of GDP, translating to social assistance expenditure of US$6.47 per poor person per year.