The impact of implementing the single salary scale on the motivation of civil servants: the case of general secondary school teachers in Caia-Mozambique

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of the implementation of the Single Salary Table (TSU) on the motivation of public employees, focusing on secondary school teachers in Murraça-Caia. The study aims to assess the effects of this policy on teacher motivation, describe the implementation process of the TSU in the public sector, identify factors influencing teacher motivation and productivity, and propose management and incentive strategies to improve professional performance. With the implementation of the TSU and the elimination of overtime pay, a significant decline in teacher motivation was observed, directly affecting the productivity of educational institutions. The absence of financial incentives and low professional recognition led to widespread demotivation, compromising teaching performance and the quality of education. The study, of an exploratory nature, adopted a mixed-method approach, combining primary data collection (interviews and questionnaires) with secondary data sources (literature review and document analysis). The sample consisted of 18 teachers, aged between 35 and 40 years, and the data were analyzed using statistical methods. The results indicate that the implementation of the TSU did not result in a real salary increase in the public sector. Furthermore, the implementation process proved to be complex, influenced by various socioeconomic and political factors. Although the research has a limited scope, its findings may contribute to the debate on public policies that impact employee motivation and, consequently, their productivity.