Three of the six demands submitted by education trade unions to the Government could be satisfied. Deputy head of the Education and Science Trade Unions Federation Nadejda Lavric told a news conference at IPN that the trade unionists received a positive answer to at least three of the demands.
The three demands are: to increase the lump-sum paid to young specialists of the education system; to reduce the workload for young specialists during the first three years of work to 75% for a basic salary and to raise scholarships.
Nadejda Lavric said the Government promised to increase the lump-sum paid to young specialists, but only by half of the sum asked by trade unionists. “Another partially satisfied demand is to reduce the amount of work for young specialists as of January 1 this year and to increase scholarships. We were promised that these draft decisions will be examined and adopted in this Wednesday’s meeting of the Cabinet,” stated Nadejda Lavric. According to her, it is not yet known how much the scholarships will be raised, but the trade unions asked for a 20% increase.
Teacher Anton Dorofeev said the teachers cannot ensure an appropriate physical and moral image before the students with the current salaries. If the demands are not accepted, it is enough for the teachers to make common cause and not go to work for two days. “We will see what society does then,” he stated.
Professor Sergiu Caterinciuc noted that when the state generates jobs and declares officially that it employs people on these posts with a salary lower than the minimum substance level it means that it condemns this people to a moribund existence.
Chairman of the National Trade Unions Confederation Oleg Budza considers the teachers do not receive decent salaries because of the highly developed underground economy in Moldova. “In our country, 50% of the economy is black and no taxes are paid there. The wealthy people pay nothing to the state. These don’t care at all how the teachers, doctors, invalids and people of culture live,” he stated.
According to him, a draft decision that stipulates harsh measures aimed at combating illegal labor was submitted to the Government last June, but this hasn’t been yet examined.
