Vodacom M-Pesa and the ILO are working together in Mozambique to scale responsible digital wage payments, with training and new payroll tools planned.
Vodacom M-Pesa and the International Labour Organization have partnered in Mozambique to expand responsible digital wage payments, starting with staff training and plans for new digital payroll products.
The International Labour Organization said it is working with M-PESA operator Vodacom M-Pesa to push digital wage payments in Mozambique.
Digital wage payments mean paying salaries into a mobile wallet or account, instead of handing out cash. In this case, the focus is on “responsible” rollouts, which means clear fees, safer access to funds, and protections for low income workers.
The partnership kicked off with a capacity building workshop in Maputo for 35 M-Pesa staff. People joined from Maputo and several provinces, including Cabo Delgado, Niassa, Manica, Sofala, and Gaza.
According to the ILO, the training covered how to scale digital wage payments across sectors, and what guardrails are needed for vulnerable groups like women and casual or seasonal workers. Guardrails are basic rules and processes that reduce harm, like explaining charges, offering support channels, and preventing forced account use.
The ILO also said Vodacom M-Pesa is preparing to expand its offer with new digital payroll solutions in Mozambique. Payroll tools help an employer calculate wages and send payouts in bulk, similar to a batch bank transfer but for mobile money.
The workshop referenced a pilot in Zambezia involving the ILO MoZ Trabalha project, Vodacom M-Pesa, and Portucel, focused on shifting wage payments in a forestry supply chain to mobile money.
Moving wages to digital channels can reduce leakage and delays that are common with cash handling. It can also make income easier to track, which may help workers qualify for services like savings products, wage advances, or social insurance.
For employers, payroll disbursements through mobile money can cut payout time and admin costs, especially for seasonal workforces. For Mozambique’s fintech and mobile money market, the partnership signals more competition around payroll and bulk payments, not just person to person transfers.
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