Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA) currently is not 100% certain if the approved teachers’ pay increase schedule includes all teachers, said the manager of LIZDA Inga Vanaga.
«We do not have a single official document that would confirm this. All we have are verbal promises. We have no estimates or calculations. We cannot confirm if all teachers are included in the pay increase schedule,» said Vanaga.
She explained there is no confirmation for the plan to review average student costs, which is highly important.
«If left at the ministry’s interpretation, then we estimate 23 municipalities will not experience any wage increase at all,» said Vanaga.
The Ministry of Education and Science previously informed LETA that the developed pay increase schedule for teachers is intended for the period of time between the 1st of September 2023 and the 31st of December 2025. According to this schedule, starting with the 1st of September this year, the lowest hourly rate for teachers will be increased to EUR 8.5 (EUR 7.75 for pre-school teachers).
The Ministry of Education and Science explains the agreement is an important accomplishment that provides for strengthening teachers’ pay increase schedule for future years in accordance with Education Development Guidelines for 2021-2027.
The schedule submitted by Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša provides for increasing the lowest hourly rate for pre-school teachers every year from now on. In 2025 the lowest hourly rate for pre-school teachers will be equalised with the lowest rate of other teachers.
The schedule also provides for an increase of the lowest monthly wage rate for academic personnel starting with the 1st of September.
Previously LIZDA threatened to organise a nation-wide strike if the government did not fulfil its promise to divert enough money towards teachers’ wages and balance existing workload.
Also read: Teachers in Latvia to see increase of lowest wage rate starting with September