Barran Press
TAIZ, Yemen — A joint meeting held on Friday, January 10, 2025, between Taiz Governor Nabil Shamsan and the local teachers’ union has resulted in the establishment of a committee to address teachers' demands and facilitate the resumption of educational activities in schools across the province.
According to Bran Press correspondent, the meeting, led by Governor Shamsan, included key officials such as the directors of the education, civil service, and finance offices in the province.
Abdulrahman Al-Maqtari, Secretary-General of the Taiz Teachers’ Union, stated that the meeting focused on teachers' requests in light of rising living costs. Governor Shamsan committed to submitting a memorandum to the Presidential Leadership Council to secure a monthly incentive for teachers, similar to what is provided in other provinces.
Al-Maqtari noted that the governor also pledged to implement adjustments related to qualifications, work nature allowances, and rural allowances, with an agreement for the civil service to begin accepting requests for these adjustments.
Additionally, the meeting established a plan to expedite the disbursement of delayed bonuses to the Ministry of Finance and to address the situations of teachers from 2011 regarding salaries and allowances. The governor directed the formation of a joint committee led by the deputy governor for financial and administrative affairs, Khaled Abdul Jalil, to study and find solutions to teachers’ demands.
Al-Maqtari announced that the union has decided to suspend the strike and resume classes, with a formal statement to be issued soon.
The Director of the Education Office emphasized that the joint committee will collaborate with the union to address the issues at both local and central levels, confirming that the meeting concluded with an agreement to restart educational activities in the province.
Since December 22, 2024, teachers in Taiz have been on an open-ended strike as part of the union's escalation efforts until their demands are met, primarily concerning salary regulation and wage increases.
The union’s previous statement outlined demands for regular and improved salary payments, including a cost-of-living allowance to reflect rising prices, which has been implemented in four other provinces: Aden, Marib, Hadhramaut, and Al-Mahra. Teachers are also calling for the payment of all overdue salaries from 2016-2017, a review of the minimum wage, and adjustments to the salary scale for all grades.