Teachers' salaries will not be cut, Minister Valentina Buliga

Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga refutes the latest rumors that the teachers will not benefit from pay raises as a result of the amendments introduced by the Government to the legislation on December 7, 2009, but will even have their salaries cut, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communique from the Labor Ministry. Valentina Biliga said that the planned 54% increase in the salaries of teachers in all education institutions wasn't annulled, but phased in: a rise of 24% - on September 1, 2009; a rise of 12% - on January 1, 2011, and a rise of 10% - on September 1, 2011. According to the communique, as of September 1, 2009, teachers' salaries have been recalculated by using the coefficient k = 0.8 and these salaries will be paid throughout 2010. The new remuneration conditions are aimed at reducing the discrepancies between the salaries of the young teachers and of those with seniority, who are paid increments. The new remuneration system provides opportunities for the young specialists and encourages them to work in the education system. The salary paid to a young specialist during the first year of employment was raised from 1,186 lei to 1,800 lei.