Teachers return to school

Teachers return to school

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Councillors with West Nusa Tenggara
provincial council expressed relief after thousands of teachers
in East Lombok resumed teaching on Wednesday. The teachers had
gone on strike since last week, protesting against compulsory
deductions from their salary for charitable purposes.

"The teachers have resumed teaching after the East Lombok
government agreed to scrap a bylaw that requires compulsory
deductions from teacher's salaries for charitable purposes," said
councillor Huzaini Areka.

The "alms" bylaw was the brainchild of the Moch. Ali bin
Dahlan administration and affects all local government workers in
the regency. The 2.5 percent deduction comes on top of normal
tax, and has been keenly felt since the fuel price hikes on Oct.
1. Protests against the compulsory deduction have been staged by
various quarters since the bylaw took effect two years ago, but
have so far fallen on deaf ears.

Islam requires alms-giving as part of the effort to promote
equity in society, especially at Idul Fitri. It also encourages
those who can afford to donate 2.5 percent of their income to the
poor. -- Antara