Cape Verde to Pay Former TICV Airline Workers 30% Stake
The Cape Verdean government has pledged to settle its portion of unpaid wages and compensation owed to 46 former employees of Transportes Interilhas de Cabo Verde (TICV). The announcement follows a week of protests by workers who have been left in financial limbo for months.
State to Pay 30% Stake
Minister of Tourism and Transport Carlos Santos confirmed on Friday that the government is now prepared to fulfill its obligations. The state’s responsibility is limited to 30% of the total debt, reflecting the government’s minority stake in the grounded airline. The remaining 70% rests with majority shareholder Bestfly.
“After receiving information from Bestfly regarding the total indemnity values, the government is now in a position to fulfill its part,” Santos told Rádio de Cabo Verde (RCV).
Workers Demand Answers After 100-Day Delay
The government’s commitment comes after mounting frustration among former staff. Under an agreement reached in August, workers were promised two months of back pay and severance packages within a two-week window. Nearly 100 days later, those promises remain unfulfilled.
While workers have complained of “silence” from the authorities and ignored requests for meetings, Minister Santos shifted the blame for the delay onto the majority shareholder. He noted that because the government currently lacks representation on the company’s Board of Directors, it had been waiting for Bestfly to finalize the termination contracts and financial figures.
A Path Home: Priority Hiring for New Airline
TICV suspended all inter-island operations in April following a breakdown in the partnership between the Cape Verdean state and Bestfly. The subsequent collapse left the domestic aviation market in turmoil and its workforce unemployed.
As the country prepares to launch a new domestic carrier, Linhas Aéreas de Cabo Verde, the Minister offered a glimmer of hope for the displaced workers. Santos confirmed that a recruitment process is currently underway and reiterated a standing promise that former TICV employees will receive priority for specialized roles within the new airline.
Image: Pexels – Optical Chemist
