Temp teachers face another pay delay

JAKARTA: Temporary teachers in Jakarta will have to celebrate Idul Fitri modestly as the agency for basic education delays disbursement of their allowances until after the Islamic holiday.

The agency's deputy head Saefullah said Monday his agency would make full payment on outstanding allowances, worth Rp 500,000 (US$52.40) per month. The honoraria have not been paid since January.

The 6,882 temporary teachers in Jakarta have been visiting the City Council to assert their rights. They are also asking for the chance to join the civil servant rolls.

"We want to pay the allowances before Idul Fitri, but we can't because we're still verifying data," Saefullah said, as quoted by kompas.com.

Head of the Indonesian Temporary Teacher Communication Forum for Jakarta, Syarifah Affiana, said the allowance disbursement for temporary teachers was hampered with delays every year. -- JP