EMPLOYMENT Minister Agni Deo Singh has warned heads of schools to respect the new amendments made to teachers’ salaries and duty hours.
Speaking at the 96th Fiji Teachers Union annual conference in Ba last week, Mr Singh said heads of schools would be cited for violating these recent changes.
“Our educators in the ECE centres are paid hourly and they are being paid a normal salary like any other teacher,” said Mr Singh.
“So they have a normal full day job, and they work for eight hours.
“A teacher’s duty hours are from 8am to 3.30pm because they are on duty during the lunch hour.
“We have clarified the duty hours of teachers so if any head of school is not respecting that, it is a breach and I am asking the union to ensure that these policies are not violated.”
Mr Singh said Government is engaged in negotiations with the FTU and other civil service unions over the review of the general orders for civil servants.
“The general orders are being reviewed which is your master agreement.
“All civil servants are employed under the general orders, and your union is negotiating to review the general orders and to strengthen the public sector governance.”
He said proposed regulations such as the Teacher Protection Policy were also being drafted.
“I remember while being with the FTU pushing for a teacher protection policy and I must congratulate the current administrators of the union for successfully bringing this to Government and getting the ministry to work on such a policy.
“Teachers need to be protected and safe during their service so having a policy such as this would really help them with their work.”
