Many teachers who have started teaching this year are raising serious concerns about not receiving their pay since the school term started while the Education Minister Aseri Radrodro says teachers must submit their documents on time.
A teacher, in a widely shared Facebook post says the welfare of new teachers should be prioritised and asks, if the private sector can compensate their workers in a timely manner, why cannot the government?
She says not only is it immoral, this is downright inhumane, it is negligence on the respective authorities part and against the law.
The teacher says nowhere in their contract does it say that they have to wait 8 to 10 weeks before getting paid.
She says most of these teachers are working in the weekends to find the means to feed themselves.
The frustrated teacher asks why is a system that clearly does not work being justified when the system and processes can be changed for a sustainable work environment.
While responding to questions by fijivillage News, the Education Minister says for any new graduates coming to the Ministry, they need to undertake a process of induction.
While acknowledging the new graduates, Radrodro says they need to be aware that they have a responsibility to provide the information and documentation to the Ministry.
He says when the appointment comes, they need to sign the appointment letter and send it to the Ministry.
The Minister says if they do not do that, they will prolong the processing of their pay because the system needs their endorsement.
Concerns have also been raised that the Ministry has not paid the FNPF contributions of the teachers since the beginning of the year.
Radrodro says the Ministry of Finance is working to ensure that all the outstanding FNPF contributions from January to February this year is processed before the end of the month.
He says it is unfair to single out the Education Ministry as this is happening across all government ministries because of the transition of systems.
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