The teachers demanded that the Ministry of Education disburse all outstanding dues for last year and the first semester of this year before starting any other file.
The statement announced that the League of Contractual Teachers has begun a campaign under the slogan “Permanent Employment or Full-Time,” which includes organizing legal workshops and meetings with members of the Education Committee in Parliament and with various political blocs. The statement indicated that these parties showed responsiveness and assured the League that they are in the process of formulating an official position that will be discussed with the administrative board soon. The League expressed its readiness to study these positions and take practical steps on the ground to demand the enactment of the law after completing the necessary preparations.
The statement explained that, in conjunction with the League’s efforts to achieve job stability for contractors, the arena witnessed many developments, most notably:
The government’s approval of an increase in the salaries of public school principals ranging between $150 and $200 per month.
Approval of an internal contracting settlement in favor of tenured teachers, while the rights of contractors remained suspended in the ministry.
The continued work of contractual teachers for the third consecutive month without receiving any dues.
Non-disbursement of May and June dues for procedural teachers for last year.
Absence of any clear information about the date of disbursement of dues for seconded teachers.
Non-receipt by fund teachers of the dues for the last semester of last year.
Non-application of the transportation allowance decree for each working day, despite repeated demands from the League.
The Minister of Education issued a circular stipulating that one hour’s pay be calculated for every hour and a half of work for coordinators, which the League considered a violation of Lebanese legislation and the principle of equality.
The League warned that the coming days will be decisive, demanding that the Ministry of Education reconsider what it described as “trampling on the rights of 80% of the teaching staff,” otherwise it will resort to escalating steps preceding any government measures.
The statement added: “This is the first time that increases are approved for the permanent staff and not a single penny is given to the contractors,” considering that the gap between the salaries of the permanent staff and the dues of the contractors is widening in an unprecedented way.
The League concluded its statement by defining two main demands:
Disbursing outstanding dues immediately, activating a regular monthly payment system, and disbursing the transportation allowance for each working day.
Accelerating the enactment of a full-time or permanent employment law to ensure job stability for 70% of the teaching staff in official basic education.
The statement concluded: “No education, no teaching, and the teacher has been without pay for three months. Independence is the day the citizen feels safe in his country, not the day the teacher raises the flag with one hand and extends the other for help.”
