Regions warned of teachers' strikes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI)
\nwarned regional administrations throughout the country on
\nWednesday of a possible spread of teacher strikes if their
\ndemands for back pay were not met.<\/p>\n
"We know that the teachers' actions have so far hit only
\nseveral regions, but the strikes may spread if teachers in a
\ncertain region know their counterparts in other regions have
\nreceived their back pay, while they haven't," PGRI chairman
\nMuhammad Surya told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Thousands of teachers in several regions, such as Purbalingga
\nin Central Java, East Lampung, Madiun and Ponorogo in East Java,
\nand Muna regency in Southeast Sulawesi, have walked off the job
\nto protest delays in back pay.<\/p>\n
A nationwide increase in civil servants' salaries amounting to
\nbetween 14 percent and 30 percent, was announced in April after
\nprovincial legislative councils approved the local
\nadministrations' budget proposals.<\/p>\n
The government had decided to issue all back pay in July, but
\nhas so far failed to deliver on the promise.<\/p>\n
The disbursement of back pay has, since then, become the most
\nserious financial problem faced by all provinces and regency
\nadministrations following the enactment of the Law on regional
\nautonomy on June 1 this year.<\/p>\n
In Muna regency, Southeast Sulawesi, a strike launched by
\nteachers on Monday has reportedly paralyzed the schools there.
\nMany kindergartens, elementary, junior and senior high schools
\nhave been forced to close.<\/p>\n
L.M. Rasyid, a member of the Muna legislative council,
\nexpressed concern over Muna Regent Ridwan's reluctance in making
\nthe teachers' back pay a priority.<\/p>\n
"It would be better to delay some of the existing development
\nprojects and use that money to settle this issue," Rasyid told
\nAntara.<\/p>\n
A similar strike also hit Madiun on Wednesday, forcing
\nstudents to go home early. Nearly all schools in the subdistricts
\nof Mejayan, Nglames, Wungu, Geger and Jiwan were empty before
\nnoon.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Madiun administration, Bambang Sulistya
\nHadi, said his office had issued an order to make payment, but
\nthere was enough for only half the amount. The rest will be paid
\nin September, he said.<\/p>\n
In Purbalingga, teachers ended their strike on Wednesday after
\nRegent Triyono Budi Sasongko promised to meet the teachers'
\ndemand for back pay in late October, saying that his office would
\nborrow the money from the bank.<\/p>\n
He said that the decision was made after he met with council
\nspeakers in the region.<\/p>\n
Previously, the regent had insisted that the payment would be
\nmade in December, which sparked anger among the 7,000 teachers in
\nthe regency. They went on strike for seven days.<\/p>\n
"Since the administration has no money, we are forced to
\nborrow money from the bank to settle the matter," Triyono told
\nthe Post, adding that some Rp 16 billion (US$1.77 million) to Rp
\n17 billion was needed.<\/p>\n
A teacher from State Junior High School 128 in Jakarta (SMPN
\n128) said the salary increase, which was supposed to take effect
\nin January, was only paid in August and the remaining back pay
\nhad not yet been paid. "We don't know when it will be paid," the
\nteacher, who requested anonymity, said.<\/p>\n
Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar said he had
\nsent letters to the finance minister, state minister of
\nadministrative reforms and the Institute of State Personnel
\nAdministration (BAKN) to help solve the problem.<\/p>\n
"Many regions have not paid the back pay for teachers and
\ncivil servants in education offices as the local budget from the
\ngeneral allocation fund does not allow it," said Abdul Malik on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
He blamed the regional administrations for not immediately
\nasking for additional money from the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n
Abdul Malik said the teachers were extremely disappointed over
\nthe delay in payment as it affirmed a lack of commitment on the
\npart of the regional and central government to education and the
\nwell-being of teachers.<\/p>\n
PGRI chairman Surya also expressed concern over the widespread
\nstrike, saying that he understood the teachers' actions as it was
\npart of their struggle to improve their welfare.<\/p>\n
"I hope that the regional administrations will prioritize the
\nteachers' demands so everything will return to normal. I know
\nthat the action they have taken is drastic, but I also know that
\nit is their last resort in demanding their rights," he added.<\/p>\n
Surya said that the government had disbursed the funds to
\nregions, but because the announcement came very late, regional
\nadministrations had used the money for other necessities.<\/p>\n
"So it is a problem of poor communication between the central
\nand regional administrations," he added.<\/p>\n
He said that a new teacher at an elementary school, who holds
\na diploma II certificate, brings home some Rp 800,000 per month.
\n(bby\/02\/45\/23\/)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regions-warned-of-teachers-strikes-1447893297",
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