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