Mozambique approves civil servant retirement rules and new procurement unit

The Mozambican Cabinet has approved new regulations governing the mandatory retirement of civil servants and state agents. These rules implement legislation that raised the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65 years. Under the new framework, service may be extended annually up to the age of 70 for specific career categories based on operational necessity, provided there is a favorable assessment from a medical board and authorization from the relevant minister.

The government noted that while approximately 19,000 civil servants were initially identified as eligible for retirement under these rules, the actual number may be higher due to workers reaching the age limit in the period preceding the regulations' entry into force. The state, rather than the individual, must initiate any proposal for service extensions based on public administration needs.

Additionally, the government launched the Central de Aquisições do Estado (CAE), a centralized state procurement unit. The CAE will utilize a single online platform for publishing tenders for capital goods and high-value items. This system is designed to increase transparency and allow for the tracking of all procurement stages, from tender opening to contract award, to facilitate public oversight and reduce government purchase costs.