Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Workers (LIZDA) objects to the intention of the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) to apply an equal minimum wage rate for kindergarten administration and teachers starting next year, as reported by LIZDA chairperson Inga Vanaga.
On Thursday, the 14th of December, LIZDA commenced its open letter campaign. In it, the trade union will invite 621 kindergarten employees to sign in support of the trade union’s proposal for “Teachers’ remuneration rules”.
Vanaga stresses that LIZDA has submitted proposals to IZM that provide for a hierarchy of positions and avoid situations when the head and deputy head of an education institution are paid the same amount as teachers.
LIZDA suggests applying the lowest pay level for heads of education institutions with up to 150 children with a coefficient of 1.20 to teachers’ pay or EUR 1 831,
the pay level of deputy heads with a coefficient of 1.15 to teachers’ pay or EUR 1 755, the pay level of heads of structural units of 1.1 to teachers’ pay or EUR 1 579, by continuing to divide the rates of wages of the heads of the educational institution into the specified groups according to the number of children and determine higher lowest wage level for institutions with a larger number of children to.
LIZDA chairperson noted that an equal lowest pay rate could potentially create a risk of employees no wanting to take on the duties and responsibilities of the administration of the educational institution for the same pay as the teacher.
“IZM believes the founders of pre-school education institutions, mainly municipalities, can pay a higher rate if they decide to do it. However, municipalities rely on the rules approved by the Cabinet of Ministers,” explains Vanaga.
Amendments to Cabinet of Ministers Regulations on Teachers’ Remuneration are planned to be viewed by the government this month, so that they can come into force on the 1st of January 2024.
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