By Omar Bihmidine
By Omar Bihmidine
Morocco World News
Sidi Ifni, Morocco, November 28, 2012
In an unprecedented move, Minister of Education, Mohamed El Ouafa, pointed out during several meetings that teachers who go on strike won’t be paid for missed days. He went on to base his statements on the fact that it is not conscientious of teachers to earn money while absent from their noble job, which is teaching innocent students.
In response, employees of the Ministry have expressed their disgruntlement over the decision and went on to justify their discontent by explaining that their social stability will be seriously affected, particularly with current soaring living expenses.
“This decision runs against our fundamental rights enshrined in the new constitution,” a teacher from Agadir, who asked to speak in the condition of anonymity, told MWN.
“Through this unconstitutional decision, the government is seeking to silence teachers and deter them from fighting for their rights,” he added.
Some officials have reacted against the decision of salary cuts, arguing that the educational system cannot be reformed if tensions still linger in the Ministry.
The absence of strikers from the Ministry was soon observed after the Islamist-led government decided it would cut salaries of employees of the Ministry of Justice and that of Health who went on strike.
In accordance with article 29 of the new constitution, the right of going on strike is inalienable, but there should be some laws passed in order to govern it. Yet, up to this point, no law has been passed, which has now given birth to the controversy.
With the mounting of demonstrations in the wake of the Arab Spring, the current government is taking precautions to decrease the frequency of strikes, especially that they have a negative impact on the state economy. Pay cuts, according to the government, would be the last resort to curtail this phenomenon.
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