Over 5,000 teachers will take to the streets if the Government does not agree to increase the salaries of teachers. Chairman of the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova Oleg Budza told a news conference that the negotiations with the authorities are difficult. They cannot reach a compromise as regards the period and sum of money that is to be allocated in this respect.
Oleg Budza said he had a meeting with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, where he proposed raising teachers’ salaries by 50% from May 1, 2014. About 800 million is needed for the purpose and it will be great pressure on the state budget, but this money can be taken from the underground economy if concrete steps are taken in this direction. “We continue the negotiations with the competent ministers, but they accept a rise of only 20-30%, depending on qualifications,” he stated.
The teachers intends to stage protests starting with April 8. Oleg Budza said the trade unions are against the introduction of a common income tax for all the categories of salary earners. “If a consensus with the Ministry of Finance is not reached, the trade unions will picket this institution. We ask for at least three income tax rates,” he added.
Referring to the about 110 million lei overdue salaries in the real sector of the economy, the National Confederation of Trade Unions requested ensuring transparency in the budget of companies so that the salary earners know where the money goes and why the employers are unable to pay salaries to employees.
