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