The government advanced economic and social policies, including new tax codes and employment programs, during a ministerial meeting.
The Council of Ministers in Equatorial Guinea has approved two draft laws concerning the 2025 State Budget settlement and the 2027 budget. The meeting, chaired by the Head of State, also focused on national economic matters, employment, and social policies. Key decisions included the establishment of a National College of Accounting Experts and a new tax identification number system for individuals and entities, presented by the Ministry of Finance and Budgets.
Further economic measures discussed involved the adoption of a National Employment and Training Program and the creation of a National Institute for Employment Promotion. The Ministry of Labour and Employment also proposed a decree for formal employment incentives and reforms to social security contracting rules. Additionally, the council reviewed the pricing structure for refined petroleum products.
In international affairs, Equatorial Guinea signed agreements with Zimbabwe for investment promotion, reciprocal visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders, and economic cooperation. The council also addressed reforms for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ratification of international environmental agreements, including those on marine biodiversity and biotechnology safety.
Why it mattersInvestors are affected by the approval of the 2027 budget, new tax identification system, and economic cooperation agreements.
Read in ASJ →New labor law revisions establish telework and mandate employers create policies to ensure employees are not contacted outside work hours.
Equatorial Guinea's General Labor Law has been revised to incorporate teleworking and update labor regulations. The changes introduce a legal framework for remote work, defined as work performed using Information and Communication Technologies outside the usual workplace. This reform aims to align the country's legal structure with modern employment practices and protect workers' rights in this evolving landscape.
A key provision grants teleworkers the right to disconnect, meaning they are not obligated to respond to employer communications or orders during their non-working hours. Employers must establish internal policies outlining guidelines to guarantee this right, ensuring they also refrain from sending work-related demands during these periods. The law also prohibits discrimination against workers who choose to telework or revert to in-office roles.
The revisions seek to adapt labor legislation to new work organization methods while safeguarding the interests of both employees and employers. The law emphasizes flexibility in work schedules to help employees balance professional and personal lives, allowing for agreements on daily rest, weekly breaks, and annual leave that also ensure business productivity.
Why it mattersTeleworkers in Equatorial Guinea gain the right to not respond to employer communications outside of work hours, ensuring a clearer separation between professional and personal time.
Read in ASJ →Officials returned to their posts at five health centers and a hospital emergency unit, reversing interim appointments.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitary Infrastructures has reinstated previously suspended directors at health centers in Evinayong, Djibloho, Mongomo, Ebibeyin, and the Bata Zonal Hospital Emergency Unit. This action invalidates appointments made during an interim period and aims to ensure more efficient health management, service continuity, and adherence to administrative legality.
Manuel Eribó Elobo, Inspector General of Sanitary Services for the Continental Region, presided over the formal handover of duties. He emphasized that the government's commitment to strengthening the national health system for the benefit of the population underpins this decision. The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to transparency and efficiency in public health services.
The move is intended to bolster the management of these health facilities. The Inspector General guaranteed a formal administrative delivery and stressed that the intervention aligns with governmental directives to improve public health services. This reintegration seeks to restore established administrative processes and strengthen the operational capacity of the affected health centers.
Why it mattersSuspended health directors have been reinstated, affecting the management and operational continuity of five health centers and one hospital emergency unit.
Read in ASJ →Inspectors discovered a clandestine warehouse stocking counterfeit medicines, including a syrup allegedly made with goat urine and high-dose sildenafil.
Health authorities in Malabo have seized a range of suspected counterfeit medicines following inspections of pharmacies and clandestine warehouses. Among the items discovered was a syrup, marketed during the flu season, which a Nigerian national admitted was composed of goat urine mixed with caramel. Samples of this and other seized medications will undergo analysis to determine their authenticity and safety.
The inspection team, comprising officials from Hacienda, Comercio, Prensa, the Gendarmería Nacional, and Sanidad, also found 200-milligram sildenafil tablets being sold as Viagra. These dosages are significantly higher than the 25 and 50 milligrams typically prescribed by doctors. Officials noted a correlation between the consumption of such dubious products and an increase in hospital cases presenting with kidney failure, heart problems, liver issues, pneumonia, and lung conditions.
Juana Bocobo Sebbe, director general of CENTRAMED, urged the public to purchase medicines exclusively from authorized establishments and to verify their origin before consumption. She emphasized that both healthcare professionals and patients share responsibility in ensuring the safe procurement of medications, highlighting the risks associated with unverified products circulating in the market.
Why it mattersThe seizure of fake medicines, including high-dose sildenafil and a syrup made with goat urine, directly impacts public health by potentially causing severe medical complications for consumers.
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