Update: 6:26 am – The teachers unions are unhappy with the Ministry for placing a condition that all permanent staff must sign a five-year contract before they are given a salary increase as announced in the budget last week.
FTU, General Secretary, Angi Deo Singh says they are hopeful the Labour Ministry will step in to assist in this matter.
“A job evaluation exercise has nothing to do with the other terms and conditions of work. These are permanent employees who are now being forced to take up contracts under wise they will not receive a pay rise – this is nothing less than a blackmail.”
The circular states that teachers are eligible for the fourteen point three percent salary increase following a job evaluation exercise.
However to receive the pay rise, a signature on the new contract is a must.
FTA, General Secretary, Peni Delaibatiki claims forcing teachers to sign the contracts with new conditions is against the law and against all employment ethics.
“It’s like a blackmail of our teachers – you sign this and you get the increase if you don’t sign you don’t get the increase and we don’t agree with that as it is unethical for the ministry to be doing that on the teachers.”
Labour Minister Jone Usamate says the matter is in front of the arbitration.
The organisations have also written to the Education Ministry informing them about unstable and insecure working terms and conditions for teachers.
Both organisations will now await the outcome of the dispute filed with the ministry of labour against the education ministry.
-FBC
