The Syndicate of Contract Teachers in the Public Sector in Lebanon issued a statement on Sunday in response to recent comments by the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Rima Karami, regarding the increase in the hourly rate for contract teachers.
According to the syndicate, "The new rate, which combines the base salary and temporary allowance, now stands at $8.20 per hour, down from about $9 previously, when the pay included the productivity bonus. Moreover, uncertainties remain regarding the monthly payment of salaries, as the productivity bonus used to provide teachers with a stable income."
In light of this situation, the syndicate raises several concerns, justifying its call for a strike to defend the rights of teachers:
- How will this salary reduction be compensated?
- Why isn't the hourly rate for contract teachers calculated using a coefficient of 13, as with permanent teachers, instead of staying at 11?
- How can a decent income be ensured for teachers working fewer than 20 hours per week, who represent the majority and will see their income significantly reduced?
- How will teachers without a tax number be paid, particularly those receiving funds from independent sources, totaling more than 2,000 people?
- What compensation mechanisms will be put in place for months affected by closures and reduced working hours?
- Will the Ministry of Finance apply tax deductions to these salaries, further lowering the hourly rate?
- Will salaries be paid monthly, as with the OMT system, which previously ensured a regular income for teachers?
- How will the new system account for these adjustments?
- Will the February payments be made on March 20th, as planned, before the holidays?
The syndicate stresses that these issues directly impact the livelihood of teachers, whose monthly income barely reached $375. "How will they survive if this income decreases or if payments are no longer made monthly as before?" the syndicate asks.
The syndicate also notes that these legitimate concerns were directly communicated by the teachers themselves, who are calling for a strike to protect their rights. While acknowledging the current financial difficulties and praising Minister Karami's willingness to engage in dialogue, the syndicate emphasizes that "the priority remains ensuring decent living conditions for teachers."
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