Teachers' rice delayed in Kei

AMBON, Maluku: Hundreds of elementary teachers in the Kei Besar District have yet to receive their rice rations allocated for February and March, resulting in threats of a strike.

"I've summoned the former district treasurer in charge of the rations and he has pledged to pay the rice in the beginning of October," regent Husein Rahayaan said on Tuesday.

However he denied that all of the 449 teachers had not received the monthly ration because according to his records the number was about 200 teachers.

Teachers had said they were going on strike because many of them had not received their ration for several months.

"I have told the former treasurer that he should exchange what he owes with cash or he should sell his property, because life is very hard for teachers earning meager wages," the regent added.

Antara did not report the amount of the ration.